THE QUEST
By Natasha Nygaard and Kelsie Strong-Boag
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
As Valorian gazed out the small window into the night sky, she sighed, wishing she could be free from all the problems in her life. What a dreadful life, thought Valorian, rocking the old chair back and forth, her lessons in her lap, my only place in life is to cook and clean. From her early childhood, Valorian had always been different from other girls her age. While other girls played with dolls, Valorian was dreaming of travelling about the countryside, learning all sorts of interesting things. She wished to learn about other cultures and languages, and she had always dreamed of meeting new and interesting people. The town of Worselville was restricting for such dreams, for she knew literally everyone.
"Valorian Kaelar, you ungrateful, lazy girl, come help me prepare your father's dinner. He could be home any minute now," ordered her plump mother, dirty rag in hand. Olivia Kaelar was a harsh and unkind mother, but only to Valorian. Her younger sister Ella, on the other hand, was Olivia's favourite child, so she was never treated unpleasantly.
"Yes mother!" Valorian said, as she got up from the creaky rocking chair. She knew not to argue with her mother, for it would only end in severe consequences. Memories from when her father had beaten her for such disobedience when Valorian was a little girl plagued her mind every time she looked at either of her parents. She walked over to where her mother was standing, who was pointing to some carrots that needed to be chopped.
"Lori! I can't find Lucy!" Ella cried, jumping down from the ladder that was connected to the attic. Tears streamed down her tiny freckled face, as she wiped her cute little button nose with her ragged sleeve. Valorian and Ella had spent many afternoons hidden away from their demanding parents in the small dusty attic, playing with Ella's dolls or just talking about life. The sisters were very close, for they only had each other. Their parents weren't even worth mentioning.
"Let's look under the bed." Valorian suggested, as she brushed Ella's auburn curls off her tear-stained face. She loved her little sister, and hated seeing her as she was, crying and unhappy. Whenever her parents were cruel to Ella, she had the urge to just take Ella in her arms and make her cute little sister feel better, and make all her problems go away.
They looked under the bed, in the cupboards, and in the dark attic with no luck. Looking at her hysterical sister, Valorian felt as sad as a kitten removed from its mother too soon. She knew what she had to do. Leaving her sister momentarily, Valorian disappeared into the small bedroom the sisters shared, returning with a ratty, but loved doll that she had kept since she had been Ella's age. "I want you to have this." Valorian said gently, feeling it was finally time to part with it.
Ella's eyes widened, and she stood from her chair, "Lori, I couldn't! You have had Sally since before I was born!"
"I know how much you miss Lucy, and yes, I have had her for a long time, but she'd be better loved and cared for if I gave her to you." Valorian held out the beautiful doll to her ecstatic little sister. Sally had blonde curls flowing down her back, beautifully shaped brown eyes, and full red lips. She wore a blue dress, ripped in several places, but still in tact, and little white shoes to match.
"Thank you so much!" Ella took Sally from Valorian's grasp and stroked the doll's neat hair. Another tear rolled down her cheek, but this one was of happiness, and love of her sister Valorian. She knew just how much the doll had meant to her sister.
Just as Valorian was getting back to preparing dinner, her belligerent father stormed into the smoke filled room. He worked as blacksmith, although there wasn't much work to be done in the poverty-stricken town of Worselville. They lived in a small shack with very little space because it was all they could afford. There were two small bedrooms, one for Ella and Valorian to share, the other for their parents. The bedrooms opened into a tiny living room with two chairs and a table. The kitchen matched the living room in size, and it didn't have much food in it. It held only enough food for their dinner and breakfast the next morning. Valorian knew she would have to go to the market in the morning.
"Where is my dinner?" Malven Kaelar demanded angrily, "I just got home from a hard day's work!"
"It's cooking, Papa" Valorian replied coldly while she began to set the table. She was getting tired of her papa always being so inconsiderate of his own daughter's feelings. She ignored her anger towards her father and began setting the table.
As her family had just sat down to eat, her father barked, "What have you been doing all day? This place is a mess!"
Valorian stared into her dinner. "I was studying my lessons Papa, so I didn't have time to clean." she explained slowly, her face hiding obvious anger. She glanced at Ella, who had been admiring her new doll instead of eating her dinner. "Eat up Ella," she instructed kindly, "you wouldn't like it to get cold, would you?"
"You are always reading those useless books, what will you ever use all that reading for? After all, you're just a girl," grumbled her father.
Valorian's head jolted to look into her papa's icy cold eyes. She hated people always believing she was less of a person than any man, only because she was female. "Please Papa, may I go off to school next year?" she begged in disbelief, already knowing the answer. "I am almost old enough now. Only a couple of months until I am sixteen."
"Even if girls were allowed to go to school which, may I remind you, they aren't, there is no time for you to be off gadding about while your poor mother is working so hard to keep this wretched place clean. You don't do enough work around here as it is. It's a hard and long journey, a young pretty girl like you would get into trouble. Besides, we cannot afford to pay for schooling." he said stubbornly.
"Alright Papa, I will just take a position at the tavern then." Valorian lied, crossing her fingers behind her slender back. She would never work in a place like that. "Master Derjeu mentioned something last week."
"No daughter of mine will ever work for her living, especially in an establishment like that. Period." stated Malven crossly. He was a chauvinist and too proud to let anyone but himself provide for the family.
Valorian was very intelligent, and knew when to keep her mouth shut. Every time she was angry with her mother or father, she just thought about how she was going to run away, and go on adventures of her own, not just read about them in her beloved books. She had been planning it for months, ever since she had overheard two men talking about Riva University in Koelford, Kanaan. Valorian wanted to go on adventures without her restricting parents watching her every move, and she wanted to be educated like all of the people she admired.
Valorian yawned, then stood. "I'm off to bed." She washed her dish, kissed Ella's chubby little cheek, glanced at her parents and said, "Good night."
That night, she tossed and turned as she dreamed of the adventures ahead of her. Contrary to what she thought, her dreams were going to happen sooner than she had expected.
** ** ** **
The next morning Valorian awoke bright and early. The sun was just rising above the mountains in the distance, and the birds' sweet morning songs brought happiness to Valorian.
The moment she stepped out of her room, her father was pestering her to do the housework, spoiling her mood. "I have decided you will not be doing your lessons anymore," he said to Valorian as he shoved some breakfast into his mouth. Valorian looked at her father's plump figure and oddly shaped nose and thought of him as nothing more than a filthy pig in its pen.
"What?" Valorian dropped the dish she was cleaning into the sink, not believing what she had just heard, not wanting to believe what she had just heard. Her father gave her a warning glance for almost breaking the dish.
Malven Kaelar wiped his mushy lips with his callused hand, and turned to face his daughter. "You have been much too distracted with those useless lessons. What do you need all that knowledge for, anyway? Your mother never got any education, and she turned out just fine. You don't need any of it for being a housewife."
"But papa-" Valorian began, but her mother cut her off
"Valorian, would you kindly go to the market to fetch some fish?" Olivia asked with a failed attempt to sound sweet.
Valorian looked at her ma. She couldn't bear to think that all her dreams would be ruined because of her pa's stupid theories. "Yes ma." I can't stand this any longer, she thought; I must get out of here! When I go to the market, I shall buy all the supplies I will need for a long journey. I am leaving this wretched place, once and for all!
Her thoughts were interrupted by her father's booming voice, "Didn't you tell me that you were going to clean this place up?" he demanded, grabbing a piece of bread from Valorian's hand. He ate it greedily.
"Yes, papa," Valorian sighed, "I will clean up before I go."
"I'll do her chores for her!" Ella offered. She was always willing to help. Valorian couldn't bear to think of leaving her beloved little sister behind.
"No Ella, Valorian can do her own chores," her father said angrily, "She has plenty of time; she isn't doing her stupid lessons anymore."
Valorian looked at her pa, her face expressionless. She was still very angry with him for ruining all her precious dreams.
They finished breakfast, and then Valorian did her chores quickly. As she was walking out the door, her mother called, "Valorian, pick up some bread while you're there."
"Yes Mama." she said, stepping back inside to take the vorsos her mother handed her to pay for the food.
"See you all later," Valorian said with a false happiness, waving a hand as she left the dank shack for the fresh air outside.
The day had dawned clear and bright with just a hint of the crisp coolness of autumn that would soon be there. The town of Worselville was strangely quiet for such a nice day, but there were still quite a few people lining the tiny streets of the market. Valorian looked around at the faces of her neighbours, and smiled a friendly hello. When she caught site of Ikad, the grocer's son, she sighed. Oh I hope he doesn't see me, thought Valorian. Ikad was such a pain, following her around every time she so much as stepped outside her door.
"Hello Lori," Ikad greeted her happily, his dark face soft. "Do you need any help with your things? I would love to carry them for you." He took a few steps towards her happily.
Ikad reminded Valorian of nothing so much as a stray dog, always nipping at her heels. They had not known each other too long, Ikad being two years older than Valorian.
"Oh Ikad, can you please go away? I really don't need any help; I'm quite capable of carrying a shawl by myself don't you think?" was Valorian’s smug reply.
"Lori, I wouldn't even dream of insulting your abilities, I was merely attempting to spare you of the strenuous work that might injure you," fawned Ikad, showing a handsome, but stomach-wrenching smile. His desperate attempts to win Valorian's heart sickened her.
She rolled her eyes, flipped her long reddish gold curls over her shoulder, and stalked away thinking, what an imbecile! I am so happy mother didn't think he would be a suitable husband for me. Her mother was a scheming woman and was always trying to set Valorian up with disgustingly attentive, handsome and, of course, rich men. Lori had absolutely no interest in the men that her mother deemed suitable since the very thought of having to marry one of them repelled her.
As she walked through the shop-lined streets she attracted looks from all sorts of people. One of those looks was full of loathing, not admiration for her youthful beauty, as most of the looks had been.
Lucas Marfield glared at her pretty figure from under his hood as she skipped down the street. A known criminal, all the shop owners despised him and refused to sell him supplies. Lucas was also planning a very long journey but not with such good intentions as Valorian's. He needed to flee to a different town, and fast. He hated anyone who was innocent and free especially one such as Valorian Kaelar. Lucas had spent a lifetime being ridiculed by others because of the horrible scars on his face, the results of an acid spill when he was a baby. All the anger he had built up inside of him had been boiling for a very long time and very soon some innocent person was going to get burned.
"Oh, Master Derjeu!" exclaimed Valorian, nearing a small stand, covered in all sorts of dried fish, big and small. "Hello."
"How can I help you Miss Kaelar?" croaked the friendly old man. Master Derjeu was a fishmonger and was at the market to sell his wares every day of the week. The two had been friends for many years, as Valorian bought fish there twice a week. The older man's grin was warm and it always filled Valorian with such hope.
"I'd like a medium sized mackerel, please."
"Here you go Miss Lori, nice and fresh!" Master Derjeu said as he handed her the fish wrapped up in a piece of paper.
"Thank you sir, I appreciate it,” she took it and handed him three vorsos, smiling her winning smile. She loved the time they spent together each week. Her friend had sound advice on most things and he understood her very well, too.
"So, how are your lessons coming along?" asked Master Derjeu. He was the one that introduced her to her studies, and had encouraged her through it all.
Her face went slightly red, remembering her anger towards her father. Truthfully, she said, "I love learning the Keistanish language. It's all so very interesting."
Master Derjeu saw that there was something wrong with Valorian, and he didn't know what, but he knew not to go into it, for Valorian would just brush it off and say it was nothing. "Well, I'm glad you like it." He handed her a cup of water and she accepted gratefully. Although it was early morning, and autumn was coming, the sun beamed down on them with such great heat that Valorian often had to wipe sweat from her eyes.
Valorian knew she had to say something about the journey that lied ahead of her. Master Derjeu would definitely notice if she suddenly stopped coming to buy fish from him. She looked at her friend. He was busying himself by cleaning fish; a job Valorian had always found so interesting. She watched him for a few minutes, mentally sorting out what she would say.
"Master Derjeu? I need to tell you something."
"Oh?" he put down his fish and gave her his full attention when he heard the seriousness in her voice. Their eyes met, he smiled, and Valorian felt better already.
"I-I'm going away for awhile." she finally managed to say.
"Really? Where are you going?" the old fishmonger asked curiously, picking up another fish to clean, not taking his eyes off of Valorian.
As much as Valorian trusted Master Derjeu, she did not want to take the chance of her parents finding out where she was going if she told him. But on the other hand, if she didn't tell him, maybe he'd go talk to her parents and find out she'd run away. Valorian didn't want that either. She weighed her options and finally decided what would be best.
"I just need to get away from this place for awhile." She used her arm to gesture to the tiny village surrounding them. "I have lived here my whole life, and never once left. I just need some sort of change." She looked up at him to see his wrinkled face turn momentarily disturbed.
To Valorian's great surprise and joy, Master Derjeu said, "I understand completely, my friend." She didn't know what she would have said if he had asked for more detail. He looked at her fondly, "and I assume you're parents don't know about this. And I shan’t say anything at all."
Valorian grinned. She loved him like he was her father, but in fact, more than she loved her own father. She would miss him so much. Valorian let out a squeal of joy; she would finally be leaving and she wouldn't have to worry about Master Derjeu hearing something that wasn't the truth. She skipped away happily, holding the mackerel carefully, glancing back only once to wave to her old and beloved friend.
Master Derjeu shook his head when she had gone. She had always been a strange, but very clever girl, and he admired her intelligence. He could sense a good future from Valorian.
With her big bags of food and supplies, Valorian struggled to walk home, but remembered she had to hide the packages. Where should I hide them? I can't take them inside, my mama and papa are sure to notice, and wonder what I'm doing. She glanced around, and saw the perfect place to hide away her supplies: a gigantic hollow tree. She had spent many days of her childhood curled up in that tree with a good book, when her parents had been unbearably cruel towards her.
Lori hid her supplies safely beneath some fallen branches, inside the bole of the big oak tree. As she hurried back home, taking the fish and bread with her, she thought, if my plans work, then this is my last night at home.
"Where are you going, Lori?" Ella asked, lowering her voice to a soft whisper when Valorian put a finger to her lips. Ella stood in the doorway from the kitchen, robed in her frilly white nightgown. Her face was full of wonder and she was also a little afraid, she definitely didn't want Valorian going off without her. "Why do you have all that stuff with you?" It was later that night, and Valorian was preparing to leave. She had on a ratty brown dress and a heavy shall to protect her from the night's chilly air.
"I'm going away for a while, Ella." she leaned in closer to her sister. Suddenly any disagreements they had once had dissolved in a pool of sisterly love. "Promise you won't tell mama and papa?" Ella nodded solemnly and reached up to put her hand on Valorian's, which rested on her shoulder. She was willing to do anything for her big sister. "I am going off to school, in Koelford," Valorian whispered solemnly, her whole being filling with hope. As soon as she uttered those words something broke loose in her heart, like cords that had once bonded all that heartache together, keeping the pains of the past in her soul.
Ella's eyes widened in shock, "W-will you come back?"
Valorian smiled. "Of course I will come back. I wouldn't be able to stay away from you for long." She mussed Ella's hair, and lightly tickled her belly.
"Can I come with you?" Ella asked, giggling slightly disbelievingly, and then said, “I will miss you so much!” The tiny girl threw her arms around Valorian, whom she admired more than anything in the world. Valorian felt awful about leaving Ella in such a terrible place. They pulled away from their loving embrace, both wondering when fate would bring them together again, if not in so many words.
"And I will miss you too. Oh, don't cry Ella I won't be gone forever. I promise you, someday, when all is forgiven I'll return." she assured her sister, wiping a tear from the little girl's face.
Valorian turned, partly to hide her tears, and also because she knew her father woke up very early for work, and she had to go before he did so. If she was caught, she would not only have to stay, but she would never have the opportunity to leave again. Valorian didn't even want to imagine how horrible her parents could make life for her if they knew the truth. All the more reason to get out of here, once I'm gone they'll forget about me, like I never existed, she pondered, At least I know that Ella won't forget me, no matter how hard they try and make her think I'm a dirty, horrible girl, she'll still have faith in me.
Taking all of her personal belongings in one large canvas pack, Valorian crept through the small shack. As she passed her parent's bedroom, she stopped, staring at their motionless, sleeping figures. The pathetic, drooping straw mattress was shamefully neglected. Her father lay sprawled over the majority of the inadequate bed, snoring loudly. Her mother was curled up in a ball, and even in her sleep her face was marred by a disgruntled, unpleasant look. Valorian was glad that she wouldn't be seeing them for a long time. She couldn't help feeling a hint of sadness looking at them. They stirred, and Valorian continued on, her heart beating heavily.
Outside, she felt safer, and started to go about preparing for the long journey ahead. She stepped into the old hollow tree, and pulled out her supplies. When they were all secured safely on her back, she started off, only to glance back once at the little shack, that she had lived her whole life in.
The sun was just rising when Valorian stopped to take her first rest. The sky was stained a beautiful pinkish-orange colour. Ella's favourite colour, she thought sadly. Valorian remembered the days when the two sisters would wake up very early, just to watch the sunrise. It was the only time she and Ella could spend together, without their restricting parents breathing down their necks. Even though her mother and father seemed to care more for their younger daughter, who had a pleasant and attractive disposition, their natures would not allow them to be agreeable to anyone.
I can't think of that now, Valorian realized, clearing it from her mind. I must think of the journey that lies ahead of me. And I have to keep moving, or Mother might wake to find me gone and come looking for me. That is if she deems the undertaking worthwhile. She tried as hard as she could to stop those bitter thoughts, but they kept on coming, undaunted by her half-hearted efforts.
She packed up what remained of the little snack that she had been nibbling on, stood, and turned to face the dead silent town. "Goodbye, home." she whispered gently under her breath, taking in everything she could before moving on.
Valorian hadn't even taken but two steps when a queer voice from behind her said, "Where are you off to so early?" She turned her head, and when she saw the man that stood before her, she rolled her eyes and sighed. The wind tousled his sleek blonde hair, a wistful look in his eyes. He was wearing loose, homespun trousers with a threadbare, cream coloured tunic. He could have been considered handsome had his face not resembled a gross, repugnant squash.
"Ikad, please. If you don't leave me alone-" Valorian started, her face turning red. She'd hoped her features were all but unrecognizable under her old work dress and a tired shawl that had belonged to her mother, but apparently she had been mistaken. Ikad was much more observant then he looked to be. He was always embarrassing her with his attempted lovelorn flatteries, but instead she thought him as repulsive as a serpent.
"Why do you hate me so?" he asked sadly, "I just want us to be friends."
"Well, I have no time for that, I am in a hurry." Valorian said coldly. I know what he is really searching for, and I am certainly not interested.
"It looks as though you are running away or something!" Ikad exclaimed, gesturing to her bags. He was trying to be funny, although to Valorian Kaelar, it wasn't funny. It was the truth.
"I am not running away. I'm simply going for a hike." she lied carelessly. Valorian was sweating under his assault of questions. He's getting too close to the truth; I have to get rid of him. And FAST.
"People don't take that many bags when they are going on a hike." mentioned Ikad knowingly. His broad shoulders seemed to pose accusingly at her as he waved his hands to accentuate the offhand remark.
Valorian sighed, trying to cover up the untruthful tone in her voice. "Well, I do, so if you please, I would like to continue. Stop prying into other people's business that does not concern you." She paused, suddenly getting an idea. She smiled sweetly, employing all of her womanly charm. "But I would really like to see you again."
"Really?" he stuttered in disbelief, "you truly wish to see me once again? Oh Valorian, I would be honoured to be graced with your majestic present."
She nodded, her beautiful green eyes gleaming in the morning sunlight.
"W-well have a pleasant walk in these glorious woods of ours, Valorian." Ikad said after a long pause.
Valorian turned, smiled to herself, and once again started on her way. She was getting a little annoyed with these interruptions. He knows I'm up to something, she admitted to herself, but now, he probably won't tell ma and pa which way I went! He will be too busy trying to flatter me in ways that make me sick to the stomach. Another thought came into her mind; why had he been out walking at such an early hour, before the town had woken up from their dreaming sleep? Valorian couldn't help feeling that he was up to something, but soon dismissed the idea. Why do I worry so? Someone like him couldn't even harm a butterfly.
Valorian chose a trail that ran along the river because people from town seldom used that route, and she didn't want people to recognize her. She hated the idea of someone finding her and taking her back home after all the work she put into leaving.
As she walked along peacefully, she whistled a lovely tune that her mother had always whistled, while they did their chores. She laughed, remembering the day when Ella had tried to learn to whistle. Her adorable pouty lips puckered up, trying as hard a six-year old could to please her big sister. They had laughed so hard that they couldn't get to sleep that night. "I think my lips are too square," Ella had said in her cute, admirable way. That had only set them off laughing even harder.
Valorian heard a loud crashing in the bush, and stopped so suddenly that she almost lost her balance, and very nearly plunged into the river. She slowly walked toward the noise. "Hello?" She said, hoping it was only someone out for a walk. Why would someone be walking in the bush? She asked herself uneasily, as she drew nearer to the noise, hoping with all her heart that it wasn't Ikad. Of course she didn't quite catch the irony of her thoughts, she had tried to pass off her own adventures as a simple walk in the woods; the ruse was an obvious fake. The woods that surrounded long, wild River Koel were fraught with unseen dangers and vicious animals. Not to mention the numerous groups of vagabonds that were rumoured to plague the magnificent woods.
The rustling moved farther away, but Valorian was ready. She pounced on the tiny shape huddled under the bush. "Aha! I've caught you! Just tell me, why are you following me?”
"It's me,” whimpered a small, scared voice from beneath Valorian’s slender body.
She recognized that voice, and immediately gave her visitor some room. "What are you doing here?" Valorian asked. She was actually relieved to find that it was not Ikad.
"I know I can't come along, but please don't make me stay with mama and papa!" Ella pleaded, desperation filling her voice. "As soon as they woke up they began screaming and yelling because you had left. Then they started getting angry with me because they knew that you had told me where you were going. I couldn't stay there any longer!"
Valorian was very angry with her parents for yelling at Ella, so she understood her pleas. She reached over and gave Ella a big hug, feeling sorry and angry and sad and relieved all at one time. "I'm sorry they got so angry at you, but what am I going to do with you? You obviously can't go back home, but you yourself even admit that you cannot come with me! It is much too dangerous, and the journey is too long for a little girl like you to manage."
"I know, but maybe I can come with you to Koelford and when you find a place to live, I can live there with you while you go to school." Ella suggested. They had stood and were sitting on a fallen tree near the place where Valorian had discovered Ella.
Valorian's face twisted worriedly in a way Ella had never seen before, and it frightened her. "How could you stay in a little shack all alone while I'm at school? That won't work. You'll have to stay with Grandfather Heswick in Leiduburg."
"Who is Grandfather Heswick?" asked Ella excitedly, her big brown eyes glowing with excitement. She stood and danced around, hope in her eyes. "Is he an outcast of the family? A long lost relative?"
"Ella, please calm down, before you fall and injure yourself. Just think of what would happen if you did that. And no, he is not an outcast of the family. Do you remember Master Derjeu, the man that helps me with my lessons?" Ella nodded. Valorian sometimes took Ella with her on her weekly trip to see the old fishmonger. The little girl admired Master Derjeu almost as much as her own sister, and he thought Ella was more adorable than a little puppy beginning its play. "Well, Grandfather Heswick is an old friend of his, that likes to help out nice people. He's extremely old, but still as sharp as a dagger."
"Does he like little girls? Have you met him? How far is Leiduburg? How long will it take to get there?" the excited little girl asked anxiously without pause. She took a deep breath when Valorian motioned for her to stop.
"I'm sure he likes little girls, as long as they are very sweet and willing to help out, just like you. He came to Worselville to visit Master Derjeu once, and he's a very nice old man. Leiduburg is about 80 quichews west of Worselville, and 10 relbans south of Koelford. Don't ask so many questions. You might attract attention from the village." Valorian said impatiently, but understandingly. They stood.
Valorian had felt very concerned someone would find her and drag her back home, and now she was even more worried. Valorian had to take little Ella under her wing, and if anything ever happened to her, she would never forgive herself. She gained full responsibility of Ella's life in a matter of moments, and she had no idea what to do with her. She tried to hide the fear she felt, and the worry. Valorian didn't want Ella to worry if she didn't have to.
"I'm sorry." Ella smiled. "Sometimes there are just so many things I want to know. So I can come with you then?"
"Yes. Well, that is, if Grandfather Heswick will take you, and if you don't get in the way of my journey." Valorian smiled back.
"I'll be really good, Lori. You'll see!" Ella squeaked, trying to reassure her.
Valorian took Ella's hand and squeezed it tightly. "We'd best keep going. They probably have a whole search party out looking for us."
** ** ** **
"This map must be wrong!" cried Valorian, with a heart worn look taking over her pretty face. "We've passed this stump three times already!" Checking the map for the hundredth time, she let out a sigh, and folded it up. It was of no use to her. They hadn't been gone three days yet and they were already lost.
"What are we going to do?" asked Ella, her lips quivering in a way that made Valorian's heart ache.
Valorian felt terrible for upsetting Ella. She forced a grin, and said more calmly than she felt, "We'll simply ask for directions. We're far enough from town for anyone to recognize us." Valorian was relieved to see hope beginning to form inside of Ella: it showed through her beautiful eyes.
Although the days were getting shorter, the heat was still outrageous. Sometimes the girls would walk for miles with no shade to spare them of the smouldering heat. Valorian wished for a bath or a rainfall or something to wash the sweat from her body.
Valorian spotted a tall, hooded man. She started uneasily towards him. “Excuse me, sir?" Valorian asked, in a tiny voice. She daringly looked into the man's grey eyes, and saw they were filled with hurt and sorrow. The strange and vaguely familiar man had started eyeing her supplies bag when she had first approached him. "Would you kindly point us in the direction of Leiduburg?" Her voice was shaking.
The man grunted, pointed east, and walked swiftly away, a slight limp in his left leg.
Ella ran to Valorian's side. She had stayed back in case of danger; she hardly trusted anyone, and the hooded figure was definitely not an exception. "Why did that man have so many scars on his face? He looked awful."
With that, Valorian suddenly remembered. That's Lucas, the man who's wanted for murder in Worselville! To answer Ella's question, not wanting to scare the little innocent girl, she said, "He was in an accident as a child, and no one ever really got to know him after that." Ella seemed content with that answer, but she looked as though she felt sorry for the man.
Forgetting about Lucas, Valorian looked in the direction the man had pointed. No wonder, she thought, we took the wrong turn. We should have turned left instead of-
"Lori?" Ella asked gently, not meaning to interrupt Valorian's thoughts, "could we go for a swim in the river?"
Valorian eyed the raging river, wondering if it would be safe. The only reason they hadn't gone in it before was that Valorian feared something would happen. She had a good sense of danger. Thinking of the nice, cool water, and being as hot as Ella was, Valorian agreed hesitantly.
"This is great!" cried Ella, once she was in the water.
"It certainly is! Just don't go too far out, or the current might sweep you away like a spec of dust on the floor." Valorian ordered.
"I can swim." Ella argued, but obeyed once she saw the look on her older sister's face. It wasn't often that Valorian ordered Ella around, and experience told her that it was always best to listen to her.
They swam together for about half an hour, enjoying every moment of the long awaited leisure time. Valorian then got out of the clear, sparkling river, feeling as refreshed as ever, and a little hungry, so she was going to watch Ella from shore, while eating a light snack. Just as Valorian was drying off, she heard an ear-piercing shriek. She instantly ran to the edge of the water, her heart pounding rapidly.
"Ella! Where are you?” Valorian called frantically, shielding the sun with her hand. She finally made out a small shape in the dark currents, and immediately dove into the cold water. Memories of Ella as a happy, enthusiastic little girl flashed through her mind as she swam far out into the river's strong current. Nearing the small, motionless body of her little sister, she gasped, almost getting sucked down by the undertow. She grabbed Ella by the collar of her under dress, and swam as fast as her failing limbs were able to the shore.
Once there, Valorian coughed out some of the tepid water and started examining her poor little sister. Ella wasn't breathing. Tears streamed down her already wet face. Stroking Ella's fine baby-like hair, she thought, I knew I shouldn't have let her come along, and I knew I shouldn't have let her go swimming in the river. I failed miserably. Her last, desperate effort to save her little sister was successful. Ella spat out a mouthful of water, and started coughing.
"Ella!! Thank heavens your alive! I-I thought I lost you!" Valorian said to her sister, fearful tears in her eyes.
Ella smiled weakly, her face pale from the frightening experience. "Well I'm not, and I'm very sorry to make you so scared."
"I told you not to go out too far! You nearly scared me to death!" She was checking Ella over, making sure she had no unknown injuries.
"I'm sorry, Lori. Next time I'll make sure I don't accidentally drown." Ella said a little sarcastically.
"I'm just so glad you didn't drown." Valorian said, once she realized she was being too harsh, considering the little girl had almost died. She let out a deep sigh of relief.
After quickly recovering from the misadventure Ella cried "Lori! Our supplies are gone!" She pointed to their hiding place under the bush, where they had hidden all their provisions.
"That's silly, I only left them for a moment. How could they possibly go missing in that amount of time?" Valorian looked confused and worried. She stood from her kneeling position and glanced around. All she saw was the river to her right, thick, dark forest to her right, and a dirt path behind and in front of her.
Valorian and Ella had been so busy searching for their supplies beneath the bushes and in the darkness of the forest that they hadn't even noticed the darkness of the cool night creeping quickly upon them.
"Well Ella," Valorian said with a sigh, "there's no use in looking for them now, it's much too dark."
"Yes," agreed Ella, "and I’m exhausted.”
They found a small, promising cave and set up camp. After all the work was done, the two sisters sat cuddling together, Ella's head lying on Valorian's shoulder. "Thank you for not making me go back home..." Ella managed to say through yawns.
Valorian smiled in the darkness. "I'm glad you are here. I would have missed you way too much." She stopped when she heard Ella's breathing change to a slow and steady rhythm. She had fallen asleep. Valorian followed quickly, falling deep into her own dreams.
Daylight came quickly, the sun poking out from behind the fluffy white clouds. Valorian and Ella woke and started looking for their supplies. They were both very hungry and breakfast was all they could think about.
While Valorian looked by the river where they had hidden it the previous day, Ella searched the bushes high and low, again. Just as Valorian was lifting up a branch of a small pine tree, she heard a loud shriek from Ella.
"Lori! Our supplies! I found it! And its all here, untouched!"
Valorian ran towards the sound of Ella's voice and found her about ten steps away from where their beds were. Sure enough, there was Ella holding the bag of supplies, which was not even opened. Relief swept through Valorian like a jolt of lightning. The girls embraced in a quick hug, but soon forgot their happiness and began to make breakfast. Although it tasted like gluey mush, they gobbled it down, every last drop.
As they were nearing closer and closer to their first destination, Valorian noticed Ella's normally plump and healthy figure minimize to just skin and bones. Ella may not make it to Leiduburg without a decent meal or two. Valorian felt heartsick with the helplessness that over swept her; she had no idea how to give Ella the nourishment she needed.
Valorian decided that they needed to find a way to stock up with new supplies, and fast; but what could they possibly do? She and Ella were just two poor girls with no training at all. Why oh why did I drag Ella along, now she is suffering because of my wistful ideas. I should have listened to my father when he said that girls weren’t meant to go to school, or work outside the home, thought Valorian. Suddenly she was struck with inspiration! That’s it! If girls can’t find work, then a young man can! I’ll dress up as a boy and find work in the next town we come to. That way I can support Ella and eventually we’ll make our way to Grandfather Heswick’s!
There was only one flaw in her plan; Grandfather Heswick knew that she was a girl. For the first time since she had left home Valorian began to doubt that her plan to finally be free and be able to make her own way in the world wasn’t going to work. Valorian was falling into a pit of despair. What excuse could she give for showing up at Grandfather’s uninvited? Leiduburg was a long way off from her home, why on earth would she be there, without her parents or any guardian?
Night was falling like a grand soft blanket over the lonesome travellers, and Valorian had to find them a nook in which to pass the long night, and quick like too, for little Ella’s sake. The sisters clung to each other through the cold crisp late October night. Lori couldn’t seem to fall asleep, for too many thoughts were plaguing her mind. There must be someway to make everything turn out. Just like in the stories from when I was little. When my father sat me on his knee and lovingly told of the bygone days of auld. More than anything Valorian wished that she had left with her parents blessings, instead of living in fear of them hunting her down and dragging her back to the family hovel, or home if you want to call it that. I can do this! Tomorrow I'll go into town and leave Ella in the woods by our supplies, whilst I search for work. That way there won't be any awkward questions...Valorian was so exhausted she just couldn't think any longer; she drifted off to sleep.
** ** ** **
The chilly air quaked with the sound of crunching leaves; Valorian's rest was interrupted by the sound of footsteps pattering by, along the winding dirt path. She sat up and goose bumps crawled across her flesh from the cold or suspicion, she wasn't sure which. Who could it be? What kind of people take this path in the middle of the night?
Voices were slowly changing from their original mutterings into discernable speech.
"What exactly happened? I know the sheriff burst in on Wardyn's Tavern; but..."
"All I know is, as soon as the sheriff heard about that murderer, Lucas - I think that’s the brute’s name, the sheriff hustled right on into Wardyn's like nobody's business..." the footsteps were fading now, but that brief tidbit of gossip had caught Valorian's interest, especially Lucas' name. Her curious nature would not rest until the mystery was found out.
Valorian slipped out of her carefully folded bedroll and crept alongside the path, being careful not to crunch any leaves so as to not alert the town vagabonds of her presence...Ella had better not follow me, this could be dangerous. She wasn't exactly sure who the men were, but whoever they were, it couldn't be good.
There fire was crackling in an alder grove not far off. There were more of them, probably a group of rustlers or something of that sort. After watching their surreal fire for all too long Valorian figured they were harmless. The exhaustion from lack of sleep overcame her curiosity, and she cleared the night's events from her mind. I have other things to worry about thought Valorian, getting up from her uncomfortable position beneath a blackberry bush, a safe distance from the men's camp, like going into town tomorrow as a boy. Crawling back into her warm bedroll next to Ella, Valorian nodded off into deep, dreamless sleep.
Morning came too quickly for Valorian, for she woke feeling sore and tired. It had been a long journey for the two young girls, but it was only the beginning. Despite the constant aching in her back and legs, Valorian woke with a cheerful disposition. She squeezed out from Ella's surprisingly strong grip, not bothering to wake her up, and stepped out into the windy morning. The skies were stone grey, the air crisp and chilly. Valorian began work of finding appropriate clothing for her day of finding work.
With no luck searching her own baggage, she started on Ella's. Her own clothing had been strictly dresses and other such clothing. Inside the bag, she saw something that made her smile. Sally sat wrapped in a blanket, as beautiful as ever.
"What are you doing?" a tiny voice asked from behind.
Startled, Valorian stumbled, and turned. Ella was standing outside the small cave in which they slept away the night, squinting from the morning sunlight. Realizing she hadn't told Ella of her plan, she sighed.
"Well Ella, I've noticed how terribly skinny you have been getting these last few days, and I realized that I must find some sort of food for you, before you whither away into nothing. I plan to find work in the next town, which isn't far off." She put down Ella's bag, and began to prepare the little scraps they had left for breakfast.
"But Valorian, you are just a girl! Girls are not allowed to work, and you know it!" Ella gasped in awe. "Nobody would hire you."
Valorian stared stubbornly as she bent to pick up wood to kindle to fire. "Just a girl, Ella? I am just as capable of work as any man in this town, and I am about to prove it. To you and everybody else, including myself."
"And how are you going to do that?" Ella asked, as she threw a little twig on the fire. She had always loved to help others in any way that she was capable, especially Valorian.
"Well," Valorian breathed, "I'm disguising myself as a boy, and I will find work by asking the locals if anyone has need of a hired hand." She paced about the camp, acting as if she was calm, cool and collected even though she was anything but. Time was short, and she had to find work before the snow flew, for Ella's sake. She couldn't think of school now, not with Ella to fret about.
Ella's eyes widened. If she was upset about Valorian's plans, she didn't show it. Valorian saw that her face was completely unreadable, small and determined, much like her own. She wished that she could afford to let Ella stop and frolic by the wayside, but it simply wasn't possible.
Ella had a million questions to ask, but soon quieted down when she was handed her small ration. She was grateful for the food, and hoped that Valorian's plans of disguise would work out for the best. There wasn't a drop of pessimism in her mind to spoil her innocence either. To Ella the world was a wonderful, happy place where there was nothing Big Sister couldn't handle. Valorian, on the other hand, felt much differently about herself.
The fire was crackling merrily and Valorian began to heat the water for Ella's bath. A thought struck her suddenly. "Ikad!" she cried exultantly. Valorian dropped the mushy porridge right away, she couldn’t think of food at a time like this.
"This is no time to be thinking about boys." Ella teased, swallowing a big chunk of the brownish mixture.
Ignoring Ella's comment, Valorian rushed to the supplies bag. She reached into a compartment that was seldom used, and pulled out a man's shirt. "Look! I just remember that Ikad gave it to me, just before we left. I think he somehow knew we were leaving, and wanted me to remember him by it, or something." Valorian shuddered at the thought of that, feeling happy once again that she was free from his horrible flatteries, at last.
** ** ** **
They packed up what little they had along with them, and headed for the next town. Ella started humming a familiar tune in her sweet little voice, and it gave Valorian hope once again. She left her camisole on and bound her chest tightly with some lengths of cloth she’d been saving in case someone was injured. Then she put on the clothes meant for her disguise as a boy; Ikad's big, worn shirt, the ratty old trousers she'd stolen from the rustler's camp while keeping watch, and her father's hunting cap to cover her long curls. She knew she might have to cut them, but she wouldn't until she was certain it was necessary. She pulled off her cracking leather shoes and the once-white stockings, now stained with road-wear.
Finding work won't be hard thought Valorian, there's bound to be some work available for a small...boy like me. Soon we'll have plenty of food, and maybe even a little extra. She cleared that from her mind and began to enjoy Ella's music. I wonder where I heard this song from, she wondered, I don’t believe I have heard it for quite a long time. She was just about to ask, when Ella stopped dead in her tracks. Valorian’s heart began to pound, and despite the cooler weather that day; she began to sweat as well.
"What is it?" she whispered, and she crept up beside Ella.
"Valorian, look! That bird as been injured! Oh Valorian, do help the poor thing!"
Valorian let out a sigh of relief, and walked towards the bird. She had been expecting something much worse, like a thief or a murderer. What she thought, and what was, were as different as the sun and moon. Lying pitifully on the grass in front of the two sisters was just a little bluebird with an injured wing. Feeling sorry for it, Valorian decided she would indeed help it.
"Don't touch it!" she cried as Ella reached out to grab it. "We must find a way to move it without touching it. I don't like to be out in the open like this for long." Valorian eyed their surroundings uneasily. She had had the feeling of being watched for quite some time.
Ella ran up to Valorian holding a long piece of rough bark, feeling important, "Will this work?"
"It'll do fine." She took a stick and carefully eased the bird onto the little bed made just for him.
Walking towards a little cluster of fallen trees, Ella asked, "What shall we call him?"
Her eyes not moving from the bird's body, Valorian said, "How about 'bluebird'?"
"Bluebird? Come on Valorian, you can do better than that. This little fellow deserves a much better name than bluebird." Ella looked disgusted with Valorian's suggestion.
"Well, little Ella, do you have any better suggestions?" She reached over and tweaked her sister's tiny but cute nose, smiling.
"As a matter of fact, I do." Ella said proudly.
Valorian looked amused. "And what's that?"
Ella smiled. "Azura." And so it was.
It was high noon by the time Valorian and Ella stumbled into the homely village; they were poor, tired, wet and hungry. The buildings were much different than those in Worselville and Valorian figured that they had crossed the provincial line. Tchakata was a coastal province, rich with natural beauty and full of precious metals. The people who lived in Tchakata were said to be fiercely proud of their mosaic culture, and that pride was evidenced everywhere one walked.
A wooden frame banner hung over the entrance to Cirquala, and most of the small, well-built cottages were decorated with hand woven blankets hanging from the porch railing. Everything looked so peaceful, the way a hometown should to a traveller finally come home.
"Oh Ella, what am I going to do? No one is going to want to hire some scruffy little boy with practically no muscles!" Valorian was beginning to doubt her once-sure convictions.
"Don't worry Lori, someone in the nice town will hire you, I'm sure of it. And even if they don't, I'm cute enough that someone will want me to work for them, right?" Ella sounded so reassuring and calm, in her naive little way, that Valorian's deflated confidence was restored. She reached over and patted Ella's small, auburn head in a silent thank-you. They were trudging along Main Street taking in all the new sights and to a couple of girls from large rambling town of Worselville it was absolutely flabbergasting. Cirquala was such an adorable little town; a place for everything and everything in its place seemed to be the perfect motto. Valorian and Ella were very relieved to be out of the woods and into such a promising town.
Having very little money, Valorian decided it would be best to spend the night in one of affordable, cozy bed and breakfasts that the local townspeople ran. The people of Cirquala were extremely courteous and welcoming, and took great delight in seeing to the every whim of any travellers. Valorian and Ella started up the cobble-stoned path, determined to find a place to stay.
They knocked simultaneously on the old oak door, hearts full of hope and trepidation. The door itself was beautiful to look at, and seemed to be hand carved. The panels shone in the midday sun, gleaming with a fresh coat of glamour. To Valorian and Ella everything was just perfect, right down to the baskets of fresh flowers and perennial plants that lined the doorstep.
Inside, beautiful landscape paintings filled the walls with great warmth, soothing both Valorian and Ella's fretful hearts. As they slowly walked down the narrow hallway, they found it hard not to look at every detail of every painting, taking in the unique beauty of each and every one of them. At the end of the hall and around a corner, there was a large room cleaned to perfection. Behind a dark wooden desk cluttered with papers, stood a cheerful young woman who was sorting through some files. Her long, silky black hair was pulled back into one tight knot and her big brown eyes showed a hint of exhaustion from her long hours of work. She greeted them with a big smile, showing crooked yellow teeth. Valorian thought she looked much better with her mouth closed.
"Good afternoon," she greeted, putting aside the papers she had pulled from a thick file, "welcome to Allison's Bed and Breakfast." Valorian glanced at the little nametag the woman wore, seeing the name Allison written in big bold letters. Oh, she must be the owner of this place, she thought.
Valorian squeezed Ella's hand with hope and smiled, "we were hoping to find a place to spend the night, and saw this lovely place." Her eyes lowered, the smile fell from her face, "but we don't have much money."
The woman looked concerned, her forehead wrinkling. "But what about your parents?"
"We're orphans and are travelling a great distance to find my grandfather. He may be the only family we have left." Valorian lied quickly, feeling terrible. She hated lying, but sometimes it was necessary. She tried to ignore the look of disappointment Ella gave her, for the little girl hated to hear lies from her older sister whom she admired so much.
"Oh that's awful!" Allison squeaked, as she tilted her head feeling sorry.
Ella looked up, her beautiful eyes pleading. "So can you give us a room?"
"We don't do business that way, I'm sorry." Seeing the look on Valorian's face, her heart broke into a thousand pieces. It was strange to see a young boy with a look such as this one, showing beauty almost. She was struck with an idea. "But there is one way you can stay here." Allison met Valorian's challenging eyes and continued, "I need someone who will clean rooms. We are short workers here, so it would be a great help if that could be done."
"That would be great." Valorian smiled, silently thanking her mother for making her do the years of chores she had done. Valorian would surely do a good job after all her experience.
Allison laughed. "For her, at least." she gestured to Ella. "But we have harder work for a strong, youthful boy like you." Valorian's smile faded, only to return when she heard what Allison had to say next.
"If you two do well enough in your chores, we may hire you onto our regular staff."
"Oh we will!" cried Ella, hugging Sally to her chest, "I promise to work very hard!"
Valorian didn't like the idea of Ella working very much, but knew it would be for the best. She could easily handle the strenuous work her mother assigned her daily, but this was much different. Ella was losing weight fast, and with that weight went her energy.
They followed the slender woman to a small room decorated with all sorts of beautiful flowers. In one corner lay a single bed; it's sheets and blankets of floral design. Beside it there was a small table with a lamp, and on the other side of the room a rocking chair sat rocking ever so slightly in the wind from the window. It was a cute, homely room, and although it was small, Valorian loved it.
"This is wonderful!" she cried, and then remembered she was dressed as a boy. She cleared her throat and put in, "if you like that sort of thing."
* * * * * *
They spent that warm autumn day settling in and getting the grand tour of the whole estate. What had looked like a cottage from the street front was actually a stately property, with newer extension wings having been built onto the original house at a later date. After weeks of traipsing over hill and vale it was like coming home, only better. This time Valorian could accomplish something through her own sweat and hard work, instead of arguing futilely with her parents over some minor disagreement. She breathed a deep, satisfying sigh and plopped lethargically down onto the bed, thinking that she’d finally gotten somewhere, about to start in on a new future, a new life.
The blankets looked like they were home-woven, and were actually a strange combination of a quilt and blanket. The patchwork design brought back some of the few good thoughts of her real home, that broken-down excuse of a house in Worselville. Lately she had been thinking less and less of Worselville as a hometown, but deep down inside, she knew it was absolutely nothing less. The thought was a welcome one; it was good to remember that somewhere in the world, she did belong, even if she chose not to live there.
At first Valorian had worried that bringing Ella along was going to slow her down, and impede her chances at an education. Now however, after weeks of conversing with no one else, she had grown to value Ella’s companionship, and began to value her little sister as not only a cling-on, but also a real person she could turn to with her thoughts, and fears.
Just then Allison called, "Laurence, come down to the kitchen please, there's something I want to show you."
The alias didn't register immediately in Valorian's mind, and suddenly she snapped to the realization that she was Laurence! She jumped quickly to her feet, starting panic with a cold sweat. What if I forget who they all think that I am? Oh! I wish that I could tell Allison the truth, especially as she's been so kind to us. Where is Ella anyways? She wondered while pattering downstairs, down the wide, winding stairs, along the open halls and through the large French doors into a big airy kitchen. She was glad that she'd remembered the way; it was not good to keep her new mistress waiting. Allison had encouraged them to call her Mistress Ally, because she preferred the more informal title to a stuffy "Mistress Nuremberg". She said it made her feel old.
"Ah here you are, I am just going to ask Flagh here to show you some of your morning duties. Flagh!”
“Here I am, Mistress Ally. Is this the new boy?” asked the friendly looking, potbellied cook. He was attired in the standard kitchen worker’s white tunic and baggy trousers, and the addition of a large belt used for hanging leather straps and pockets. The fascinating belt held every utensil Valorian had ever imagined, and then some. The pockets were spotted with a dusting of spice and herbs, some that Valorian’s distinctive sense of smell had never before encountered.
“Yes, this is Laurence, Flagh. Laurence, this is our head cook, Master Gaffed, but you may call him Flagh,” Allison intoned with a bored, repetitive look.
“Its a pleasure to meet you Mast--I mean--Flagh.” Valorian tried to look casual, as a boy would, not to eager to work. It was really difficult to avoid being enthusiastic and not gesture with her hands as all people from Worselville had a tendency to do. She ended up clasping her hands behind the small of her back. At least my posture is decent and respectful, she thought, relieved to have found a solution.
Allison whisked away as soon as she could, as the keeper of an important way house along a major trade route from the coast she had plenty of work to do each day.
Valorian tagged along with Flagh, gaping at the huge, black cook ovens and the ingenious tiny cupboards hiding all sorts of expensive spices, imported from the empire of Perytril, across the western sea. He seemed to be a very understanding man, carefully explaining all of her chores with a gentle, but firm voice.
“And this is where you will deliver the groceries to, every day before lunch,” Flagh went on, pointing to a large open pantry closet. The shelves were organized wonderfully, with each kind of food on a different shelf. The vegetables were even colour coded, for ease of access. There were sacks of different cereal grains lining the space under the shelves, and the top of each rough canvas sack was neatly rolled down to keep the grain fresh.
“It looks like you have some great workers here in your kitchen, Flagh--” Valorian stopped abruptly, remembering too late that boys weren’t sticklers for polite commentary. I never thought that being a boy would mean changing my whole nature. Ha, Ella would laugh at me if she knew my thoughts. Ah well, that’s what you get for running away from where you truly belong.
To her surprise, Flagh continued to show Valorian her duties, and didn't notice her womanly speech. He led her through the large, informal dining room meant for the workers' meals, and into the servants' crowded lounge. Raising his voice above the loud talk, he called to a sturdy, brown-haired older boy sitting among his fellows. "Eulak, o'er here. I have a job for you." The boy stood and appeared to be about six feet tall. Walking towards them, his long legs covered a great amount of ground in just a couple of steps.
"Hey Flagh, who's this?" Eulak's voice was soft, but masculine.
Answering for Flagh, Valorian almost forgot to use her rightful name. "I am V-Laurence."
"Villorence?" Eulak asked looking both surprised and confused.
Valorian laughed sheepishly, "No, it’s Laurence,” she corrected him. Valorian looked into Eulak's eyes and saw something strange about them, but she couldn't put a finger on it. Eulak led Valorian out of the noisy room, down a wide hallway, and out the same doors she had first come in that afternoon.
The sun had gone down without Valorian's notice, and the once busy streets now seemed deserted. "Where is everyone?" she asked curiously, her eyes scanning the streets for any sign of life. The only thing she saw was a thin man walking along the right side of the road looking around as if he'd lost a dog or something. She noticed he was wearing a hood that reminded her of someone, yet she couldn't remember whom. They stopped when they got to the end of the cobblestone path.
Eulak ran his fingers through his short, messy curls. "People in Cirquala retire to their beds early, only to wake at the crack of dawn. They find that the best part of the day is when the sun is just rising," he informed her, nodding his head to the right, "Come on."
Valorian's curiosity grew with every step she took, for she had no idea where Eulak was taking her. They trudged through tall grass and muddy paths, and stopped in front of a large reddish building that Valorian recognized as a horse barn. The tall doors opened with a loud creak and they stepped inside the muggy establishment. The air smelled of horses, one scent in which Valorian had loved ever since she had first smelled it, years back when her pa took her to Worselville Stables. He said he had some business there so Valorian wandered around meeting all of the different horses; they seemed to like her enough. "What am I to do here, Eulak?" Valorian asked curiously, yet attempting to sound masculine.
"First off, the stalls need cleaning twice a day. It's not a pretty job, but someone has to do it. Here, I'll show you how." He picked up a blue rake and let himself into the first stall, which held a beautiful bay. Eulak gently stroked the mare's white star as she moved her head up and down, in a greeting sort of way. "Easy girl." he said softly.
Valorian had always liked horses, but never even dreamed of owning one. She knew her papa couldn't afford one, let alone the fact that he was so cruel, so she didn't bother asking. Valorian didn't even know how to ride, but she wouldn't tell Eulak that. Not until she had to at least. "What's her name?"
"Nimble." he said simply. "She walks as though she weighs nothing, nice and smooth. Now, you don't need to empty this whole stall out. Just shake the rake and the extra shavings will just fall out, see?" He demonstrated the movements he described, making it all look very easy. His callused hands worked the rake like it was as light as a feather. Wow thought Valorian in awe, it looks as though he's been doing this for years! Valorian's first attempt failed, she just kept dropping the whole thing to the ground, having to pick it all back up again. It was definitely a lot more difficult than it looked. After many practice tries, she finally got the hang of it. "Moving on." Eulak said after Valorian had finished the stall well enough to please Eulak's standards. Eulak went on explaining each of the different chores she was to complete each day, and it seemed like much more work than Valorian had anticipated. Lucky Ella! She's inside cleaning people's rooms while I'm stuck out here mucking stalls! Valorian thought, following Eulak back inside for dinner. They went back in the way they came, and into the worker's dining room.
"This room is where you're to eat your meals; it's served over there." Eulak said, pointing to a line much too long for Valorian's liking. All that work had made her so very hungry. Eulak went to resume his conversation with his older friends, one of whom happened to be Flagh. There were so many people there, and Valorian thought everyone that worked in the bed and breakfast must have been there. Her eyes moved from person to person, studying each one. When her eyes fell upon her little sister chatting among three other workers, she was relieved. She had grown to feel inseparable with Ella throughout their journey, and was already desperately missing her.
"Laurence!" Ella cried as her sister came within earshot, "meet my new friends!" She went on naming each of her excited companions. The first was as tiny as Ella, wavy blonde hair falling into green eyes that sparkled despite the low lighting in the room. "This is Marluk. He helps his dad in the kitchen." Ella seemed to be a little over excited, literally bouncing out of her seat, Valorian decided, so she would go to bed soon after dinner. Sitting next to Marluk was a girl who looked so similar to him that it was strange, but she looked to be Valorian's age. They had the same wavy blonde hair, same green eyes. The girl wasn't paying attention to anyone, for she didn't look the least bit interested. It looked as though braiding her hair was much more important. "That's Torla, Marluk's sister." Ella leaned in closer to Valorian and said in a loud whisper, "they say she hasn't spoken for years, and no one knows why." Valorian silently wondered about her. She wondered if something had upset her in such a terrible way that made her speechless. Valorian would think about it later; she was busy meeting Ella's friends.
"I'm Weghar. I'm on clean-up duty after dinner." said a bright eyed, plump boy. "I heard you're from Worselville. I have a cousin there, but I've never visited him because mama says we are too good for them so we always stay home when the rest of our family goes there for..." the boy rambled on without pause, and Valorian threw Ella a warning glance. She had made it clear she didn't want Ella to say one word about their hometown, for she didn't want any slip-ups. Everything was going so perfectly now, and Valorian wanted it to stay that way.
“Hello everyone, its a pleasure to meet you all. I’m Laurence as I am sure you know by now. My sister and I are orphans, we’re trying to find our Grandfather, and he’s supposed to take care of us.” Valorian sat down gratefully on portion of the long bench, next to Ella. Whew, I sure hope that Ella remembers to call me Laurence from now on. Well I guess it'd be ok if she called me Lori, it sounds the same as "Laurie". Valorian was very hungry and rather tired out after all her efforts so she ate heartily whatever was offered. Delicious, thick stew; along with creamy, fluffy dumplings composed the main filler for the evening. Then came the many assorted salads, Valorian heaped her plate with fresh garden salad, and then grabbed a few fresh vegetables and a dollop of the scrumptious-looking dip that was displayed in a colourful bowl flanking the amazing array of provisions laid out on the long banquet table. Several kitchen workers were busy handing out buns and such. Flagh himself was proudly ladling his delicious stew and dumplings out to the ravenous workers.
Valorian had a right to be famished, it was nigh on eight o'clock when she sat down to eat, and she'd had her last meal just before noon. Since she was occupied by filling her stomach, she pricked her ears to listen, and didn’t speak ‘til later on.
“So Marluk, what did old Mistress Nuremberg have for you to cut your eye teeth on today?” asked Weghar sardonically. He was straddling the bench and had his left elbow propped up on the table. His dinner dishes were long since licked clean and Weghar had thrust them away from his place to leave more room for elbows and things.
“Cut my eye teeth on, eh? You uncouth colt, I declare you need a lesson in proper deportment, courtesy of my fist.” Marluk was a very arrogant young man, and took great pride in his abilities. No one insulted him without great consequences, even if they were in jest.
“Come on now, we’re friends aren’t we? You know I was just joking, don’t you old boy? Let’s not have a tussle, please?” Weghar was shaking with unreasonable fear now; he wasn’t the type of boy to back words with his own body.
Valorian couldn’t stand fights, and after years of living with a father such as she had, that dislike had grown to passionate hate. “Stop it. Just stop it you two! If you want to fight, you’re not going to try it ‘round here. Not whilst I stand to watch it.” She stood with fists clenched, struggling to sound like a real boy, and for some odd reason she wasn’t frightened whatsoever. She felt like the whole room had gone silent, and everyone was listening.
Weghar was glad to obey Valorian at her order, but Marluk turned with rage in his striking green eyes to glare at her. “Hey you! Don’t you go ordering me around! I’ve been here along time, and you can’t just walk in here and expect us to all bow and kiss the dirt for you. Stay out of my business, Laurence. I’m warning you.” Marluk had a quick temper and wasn’t at all fearful of reprimand. His father had worked at the way house for as long as any one could remember. Most of the younger servants were quick to obey his word, for if he complained to his father their jobs were easily vanquished.
On the whole Marluk was a great worker and a pleasant friend to those he deigned to bestow his favour upon, and his temper quickly cooled off.
“Well I say Laurence! That was something else; you saving my skin back there. Thanks a lot,” Weghar said when they all were finished their supper and the others were beginning to leave.
“Its no great thing, I just detest fights.” Valorian was usually a modest girl, and now with the pressure of her disguise and a new job on her, she was even more inclined to be so.
“I’m all done in for the night, how about you?” he yawned, worn out from the hard work and a good meal filling his round belly.
Valorian was in complete agreement with his sleepy remark so she trudged doggedly up the winding stairs and into her cozy room. Ella was asleep already, still dressed and curled up in a ball near the head of the bed. She lit their lonely white candle and shut the door softly, so as not to wake Ella.
Pulling off her grubby garments felt fantastic to Valorian’s overworked body. She decided it was safe to sleep without the chest binding on, and hid the prop under the mattress. She was too exhausted to even consider a bath before she crawled into bed. Within seconds she was fast asleep. Ella stirred and cuddled closer to her warm body.
It seemed only a few minutes later that gentle hands were shaking Valorian awake. She woke to a mellow, kind voice calling out, “Laurence. Laurence honey, wake up.” She blinked her morning-blurred eyes and smiled.
The woman who had woken her up was sitting on the edge of the bed, just like a mother would. She was short and plump, wore a calico work dress and her soft waves were done up in a charming bun. She was middle aged and it turned out she was the housekeeper -- and Weghar’s mother.
“Good morning dearie, rise and shine! Its already dawn and you’re going to miss your breakfast if you don’t hurry.”
“Alright, I’m getting up.” The mention of breakfast broke through Valorian wistful thoughts of catching a few more winks.
She jumped out of bed, and noticed that Ella’s small indent on their bed was long since deserted, cold with her absence. Seems as if the entire world got up with out me, she thought. Well, I’d guess I’d better get dressed; I don’t want to miss breakfast. I guess I will take my bath later today. Perhaps right before I go to bed. After all, what good is a bath now if I am only going to muck out stalls and haul sacks of grain?
Valorian wrapped herself in the binding and then slipped on a simple, green-brown tunic and the accompanying dark trousers that were to be her uniform for work. She rushed down to the dining room, wolfed down her delectable, nutty breakfast porridge, and guzzled the deliciously unknown fruit drink in a twinkling. Then she rose to begin her first real day of chores. She went out the back door, towards the stables, and stopped on the stone dais. She was completely amazed by the view that captured her.
The sunrise that Eulak had described the night before had so much astounding beauty that Valorian could not believe. She blinked twice and rubbed her eyes to be sure she wasn't dreaming it. Valorian Kaelar had never laid eyes on anything so amazing in all her years living in Worselville; the sky was stained and swirled with every hue and colour imaginable, lighting up the sky all on its own. It painted the town with its graceful blend, giving off an almost mystical impression. Valorian was so caught up in its beauty she almost forgot of the ravenous horses she was to care for. She had stopped the moment she stepped outside, taken by the beauty of the vision before her. She silently hoped that Ella could see this, for she didn't want her to miss the unbelievable sunrise.
The town was filled with active, content people scurrying from one shop to another carrying large bags filled with their purchases. Valorian was still overwhelmed by all this, and she felt a little light-headed. The horses greeted her happily, knowing she was the one to provide them with their meals. She let herself into the stall of a muscular black stallion, who was pacing in circles desperately awaiting his rations. "There, there.” Valorian said, stroking his thick neck soothingly, feeling the horse calm under her touch. Bending down to pick up the blue food bowl, she heard meek footsteps becoming closer and closer. Normally, Valorian would just shrug it off thinking it could be anyone, but this time she felt suspicion in those footsteps. She crouched down so as not to let the visitors know of her presence.
"So tonight then?" the first voice was robust, and filled with suspense. They had stopped by then, and where positioned just beside the stall Valorian was in, leaving it easy for her to hear.
"Yes, just after dinner. And you're sure he doesn't know anything about it? I wouldn't want our little...surprise to be ruined." was the second's reply. His voice was more soft, but no less suspicious.
"I don't think anyone would give this away. Besides, no one talks to Laurence anyway." Hearing her name sent chills down Valorian's spine. What were they going to do to her after dinner? She knew her fellow workers didn't much like her, but this sounded serious.
Who could it be? Valorian thought uneasily, who could hate me enough to give me this surprise they speak of? Then it struck her, and she gasped. Marluk! He feels threatened by the authority I have because of my age so he is going to teach me that lesson he speaks so greatly of! She tried to sneak a look at her plotters, but they had left. For once in quite a long time Valorian was quivering with fear. Shaking, she finished her morning chores and went inside for lunch.
Inside everything was bustling as normal, groups chatting noisily while feasting vivaciously. Ella was with her friends, hardly noticing her frightened older sister as she crept up, eyeing the people surrounding them. "Ella, may I speak to you please?" Ella glanced up, and then continued to talk to her friends. "Ella! It's important!"
Valorian was becoming angry with her little sister, and when Ella saw the irritation in her eyes, she excused herself from her friends and followed Valorian into the deserted hallway. "What‘s going on?" Ella asked in wonder once they were out of hearing distance from the crowd. Valorian heard the same tone in Ella's voice that the two had had in the barn, and she cringed. Hearing this, a terrible unsettling feeling took over her stomach, washing away any hope of lunch.
"Uhhh never mind." Valorian felt as if there was no one in the world she could talk to with her problems anymore. Ella shrugged and returned into the dining room. Valorian leaned against the wall, closed her eyes and sighed deeply, standing there for much too long. Her mind wandered way back to when she was a little girl, and the stories her pa used to tell her. She never got tired of them, and they were all so exciting. She was suddenly startled back to reality, Allison lightly touching her shoulder. Valorian hadn't even noticed her approaching.
"Are you okay?" she asked worriedly, noticing Valorian's face usually filled with such colour and radiance now ghost-white. She put a hand on Valorian's thin arm.
"I'll be fine." Valorian managed to say, standing upright. "I'm just a little tired that's all." It wasn't completely a lie, for the newfound information had made Valorian so troubled that she didn't realize how exhausted she had become.
Allison's eyes were soothing and friendly. "Then you must get some sleep. Don't worry about your chores just yet; I'll have someone else complete them for you. I will come and get you in time for dinner."
Valorian, not able to resist such a welcome suggestion, agreed, and marched up the stairs and into her homely room. Not bothering to undress, she fell back onto the soft, cozy bed and slipped instantaneously into a deep dreamy sleep.
A hushed tap on the door woke Valorian, pulling her from a wonderful dream, filled with her every desire. The door creaked open, exposing Allison's bright eyes and womanly body. "Dinner time." she said ever so faintly, almost making it impossible for Valorian to hear.
The events of that day struck Valorian like a bolt of lightning, and she trembled as she followed Allison down the familiar winding stairs, down the long hallway and just outside the dining room. They stepped inside, and to Valorian's complete horror, the room was entirely dark, making her heart pound rapidly. Suddenly, the lamps were lit exposing everyone she knew from Cirquala and amazing decorations throughout the room. "Happy Birthday!" They all yelled, smiles forming across their bright faces. Valorian couldn't believe it. She had never had a surprise party before, and she was definitely not expecting one now. She had even forgotten it was her sixteenth birthday in all the excitement of being in a new town and meeting new people. Ella, on the other hand had obviously not forgotten of the special day. The little girl grinned the most tremendous grin out of them all, looking beautiful in a nice yellow dress, Sally in hand.
Valorian was ashamed of herself for thinking the worst of these kind people, but they gave her no time to wallow in her guilt. Ella tumbled out of the crowd of well wishers and Valorian opened her arms to give her a great big hug.
“Thank you so much everyone! And especially you, dear sister. I never dreamed anyone would go to this much trouble for me. Nothing could possibly make me happier.” Her heart filled with joy and happiness, and all the fear she’d felt just minutes ago vanished.
“You’re finally sixteen whole seasons old Laurie!” whooped Ella excitedly.
Valorian unwrapped her presents while everyone watched in suspense. First, Ella’s --- it was a lovely carved wooden carousel complete with the tiny ponies and delighted little children every carousel needed.
“Turn the bottom, it’s wonderful, you’ll see!” Ella said cheerfully.
Valorian willingly turned the charming woodwork and swiftly a delicate fairy tune emerged. “Oh Ella, its absolutely lovely! I will always treasure it, especially as it’s a gift from you.” Her heart dropped to the pit in her stomach. Now I’ve done it! What a great way to ruin my own party! What am I going to do now! They’ll all be wondering why I got a musical carousel for my birthday--- I ‘m supposed to be a boy!!!!!!!!!!!!
Finally Valorian had the courage to open her eyes, most of the people who didn’t know her had gone, but Marluk, Eulak, Flagh, Torla, Allison and Ella remained. They all looked slightly confused, but no one was outraged. She had to go on opening her presents; there was a good green coat from Allison, good to have as winter was fast approaching and a sharp, costly looking dagger in a smooth leather sheath from all the rest of her new found friends.
After she finished opening her gifts everyone quickly left to go eat. The cooks had made a particularly superb repast in honour of her special day; and no one wished to miss out on the treat. Ella settled under Valorian’s arm, and looked up at her.
“Is everything all right Laurie? You look pasty.”
“Well, I am just a trifle concerned that they will think I’m mad to be happy to get a carousel for my birthday. After all, you must remember, I am a boy in their eyes.”
Ella giggled mischievously, “Oh, don’t you worry about all that. I took care of everything; I really wanted to give you something wonderful for your birthday, so I told them all that you’ve always loved woodcarving, just so they wouldn’t think of the music part.”
“Why Ella! How terribly clever you’ve become, what a fine idea that was! You definitely saved me from a dreadful situation,” replied Valorian, relieved that they weren’t going to lynch her later that night, “but still, I must learn how to talk like a boy, or they’ll soon catch on.”
“I never said it wouldn’t be an uphill journey, now did I?” chortled Ella, now almost overcome by another unwarranted fit of the giggles.
Valorian wrapped her arm snugly around Ella’s shoulders and the two sisters ambled into the dining room, happy as can be. The table that she’d sat at last night was adorned with a exquisite flower garland, and her and Ella’s plates were heaped with steaming portions of mouth-watering roast chicken, marinated in Flagh’s secret sauce, and dreamy heaps of fluffy mashed potatoes, along with other culinary delights.
She couldn’t take in all their generosity with out feeling completely overwhelmed. Cramming her stomach full of her special dinner quickly solved those feelings, at last, after a long period of guiltless satisfaction, she felt sated. Valorian looked about her, all of the workers in the way house were there except for those still on duty, perhaps a little more than a score of them. Stable boys, kitchen maids, cooks, porters and others with all kinds of duties were seated, talking amongst themselves, at the long rough-hewn tables heaped with platters and dishes now empty of their once plentiful load. Finally she was so worn out that she dragged her weary body up the seemingly endless stairs and down the continuous maze of corridors.
Valorian saw the entrance to the servants bathing quarters and remembered she was desperately in need of a bath. She tried to remember when was the last time she’d been clean, and failed. Well, at least I smell like a boy. Oh dear! What am I going to do, I can’t bathe with the women, and I certainly can’ t wash my body alongside the men. Whatever shall I do? In her mind she was beginning to lose her nerve.
Finally, she decided that she would just let her hair down over her face and go in the women’s baths, hoping no one would recognize her. She plodded back to her room and gathered her nightclothes and trusted that the towels and soap would be provided. Ella wasn’t in bed, she must have still been downstairs chatting with her friends. The corridor seemed to go on forever and Valorian’s tired limbs felt to her as if they weighed as much as two large anvils. At last she reached the doorway again. Entering, she found a room partitioned off by rice paper screens. She breathed an immense sigh of relief and went on into one of the compartments. The wooden tub was large and deep, and was filled with fresh-scented, steaming water.
After a luxurious tub time Valorian emerged feeling refreshed. She just barely remembered that she had to put up her hair again and then snuck off down the hall to her bed.
Ella was lying all snug in the covers when Valorian arrived, but her eyes were wide with cheerfulness and excitement. The room was dimly lit with a small candle on the table next to the bed, flickering gently, casting mysterious shadows in all the dark corners. Ella sat up in bed when she caught site of Valorian, still dripping from her delightful bath. "Hello Laurie."
Valorian walked over to the side of the bed and sat down on the corner, just next to Ella. She looked into her little sisters eyes with such love and respect, and smiled. "Thank you again for the marvellous party, I was so surprised I couldn't believe it; it was everything I could have ever hoped for. And this carousel-" she picked up the lovely hand-crafted object with care from the table beside them, winding it to hear the soft, relaxing music fill the room. Its beauty alone took Valorian's breath away; leaving her speechless each time she looked at it. "It's just so--how were you ever able to afford such an extravagant gift as this?"
Ella watched Valorian run her fingers along the smooth, flawless wood without saying a word, then smiled. "I have taken care of it my dear sister, not to worry."
Valorian looked up from her gift and into the laughing eyes of Ella Kaelar, seeing something there she hadn't noticed before. She must have been too caught up in her work to realize that her little Ella had grown up such a great deal since the beginning of their journey. She smiled to herself, loving Ella more every second.
When Valorian was all cozy in their bed and the candle was out, she heard a soft sigh from Ella and felt her weight shift nervously, letting Valorian know right off something was wrong. "What is it, Ella? What is going on in that mind of yours?"
There was a long pause before Ella said anything, and when she did her soft voice was more hushed than usual, sounding just slightly disturbed. "Do you ever, um, well, miss ma and pa?"
Knowing she was in for a long, difficult discussion, Valorian sat and lit the candle carefully once more, being sure not to catch the blanket into flames. The last thing she wanted was to burn down such a grand place. She turned to Ella wearily, bringing the blankets around her shoulders, and she sighed. "In a way, I do. When you live the same routine most of your life, it's always difficult to alter your known ways, especially when you are roaming unknown areas as we are, when nothing around you is dear and familiar." She hugged Ella in close, feeling her heart beating steadily against her covered arm, feeling the methodical rhythm of her gentle breathing.
Valorian stared out into the starry night, thinking of the long, treacherous journey they had accomplished, believing with all her heart she did the right thing, despite abandoning their parents with not a hint of notification or implication at all.
Ella looked up into Valorian's eyes; her own eyes showing a slight tear forming in the corner of her eye. "It's not that I don't love these people. Oh Lori, they're wonderful people. It's just we belong to ma and pa. Think of how they are without us."
Ha, thought Valorian, she means think of how they are without her. They probably don't even miss me. They've always loved her. Valorian felt helpless listening to Ella's pleas, but she knew she couldn't help her, despite her desperate desire to bring the poor little girl home to her ma and pa. "I know, Ella, I know." she whispered softly, just grazing Ella's ear as she spoke into it. Ella moved into Valorian's lap, and Valorian rested her chin on the top of Ella's head, wrapping her arms around her thin body. They sat cuddled together on the worn bed throughout the most part of the night, talking, soothing. When they finally drifted off, it was nearly dawn.
Valorian woke hearing the patting of the heavy rain on the rooftop, feeling the air as chilly as ice. She dreaded leaving her warm, cozy bed for the cold air outside it. Realizing dolefully that she had responsibilities, she dragged herself from her bed feeling as though she just walked into the wintertime and forced herself to prepare for the day's work. Valorian looked at Ella, still sleeping and wrapped in many blankets, and longed to cuddle with her and feel the warmth she felt.
Outside, the rain seemed heavier than it sounded from Valorian's room, and that only served to even further dampen her spirits. While walking on the well-known path to feed the famished horses, Valorian came across an immense puddle of thick mud that just happened to block her way. "Just my luck." she grumbled unhappily, rolling up her pants, and taking off her shoes, both useless exercises. Feeling the gooey mud between her toes wasn't as bad as expected, for it reminded her of playing in the muck back home. This isn't so bad thought Valorian, smiling despite herself. She continued on, only to stumble upon an extra slippery patch.
One long, gruelling slog to the stable later and Valorian had managed to become completely covered in mud. She smiled despite all her struggles, and greeting all the horses cheerfully, especially Nimble, whom she had grown close with. The hay was in a loft high above the horse's stalls, she made the endless climb up the wooden ladder and tossed down two bales of hay.
Most of the horses belonged to the costumers of the way house, except Nimble. She was a fixture in the big, comfy old barn and belonged to Eulak. He had bought her with his own hard-earned money the second year he had worked there. Most of the workers lived in their own cottages and huts in the town, but Eulak's parents had given up on him when he was a boy. It was by Allison's kindness that he was working at the way house. All the workers ate together because it was a benefit of their job, and after working such long hours as they all did, cooking their own dinner was too a taxing duty.
"Hey Nimble, here's your breakfast --," Nimble nuzzled her big, soft head into Valorian's shoulder, offering comfort and searching for treats, "haha, don‘t you eat it all at once now,” she laughed softly.
At last Valorian was finished feeding all the animals, now she could go eat breakfast. Oh dear! I’m all muddy! I’m not going in to breakfast like this, and I dare not take another bath. Just then she saw the large watering trough, filled with fresh water from the night’s heavy rainfall. Well, I guess I might as well, she thought as she soaked her scum-covered body with the supply, I am supposed to refill it later today anyways, nobody will mind. And it’s certainly a lot better than trying that trick in the baths again!
Breakfast was soon forgotten in the flurry of activity that ensued, Valorian was constantly on her feet the moment she rose from the breakfast table. First she had to take out the horses and put them to pasture in one of the back corrals, all except one of the stuffy, rich guests who insisted that his mounts be placed in a separate, more luxurious corral. Valorian laughed with the other stable boys at that. How could one large patch of grass be more lavish than another? It was all the same to the horses.
After dealing with finicky, spoiled pets of horses for what seemed like hours she had to help clean their filthy stalls. She couldn’t believe how quickly the stalls became soiled. They had to be cleaned twice each day and even that effort seemed to be insufficient to Valorian’s eyes. And after the entire barn was spruced up to perfection she was handed a tray of odd brushes and told to groom the horses -- perfectly.
The days flew by in an odd array of exceedingly repulsive tasks. After she was deemed proficient at all aspects of horse care she was hauled in by Flagh again and put to work scrubbing grubby pots and pans and hauling amazingly heavy sacks of grain to and fro.
Valorian knew that soon the first snows would arrive, and then her work would change yet again. The stable boys were kept marching double, gathering firewood and storing it for the winter ahead. Winters in Tchakata were unpredictable to say the least, and this year the old men at the tavern were predicting a long, bitterly cold one with an abundance of snow. They could feel it in their bones they said, sure as sure could be.
One day she was startled awake by a heavy weight plummeting onto her chest. It was Ella, and she was jumping with joy. “LAURIE!!! It’s here, It’s here!” she yelped with excitement.
“What’s here? What?” Valorian’s tired mind tried to comprehend the news.
“WINTER! That’s what you silly! And it’s about time! Look outside! There’s fresh new snow EVERYWHERE!!!!” She was bouncing off the walls with excitement now like a hyper little puppy, and everything was new and exciting.
Ella finally settled down enough to allow Valorian a chance to sit up. Sure enough, their small window was covered in frost sparkles and the sill was wrapped in a thick layer of delightful fluffy snow.
“Can we go outside? Pretty please! Everyone else is. I’ll love you for ever,” Her eyes filled with pleading, pretend tears and she, being very enthusiastic and dramatic at the moment, got down on her knees to beg more efficiently.
“Of course we can. Let’s go right now,” agreed Valorian, for once forgetting her responsibilities and troubles enough to lighten up.
She was up and dressed with a bound, and as soon as she pulled on her uniform and the boots they’d distributed to her just a week before Ella was skipping out the door. They rushed gleefully out to the horse pastures, where they found everyone young and old alike, frolicking in the first snowfall of the year.
Valorian couldn’t resist picking up a blob of the sticky snow and lobbing it at Eulak who sat blissfully unaware in his half-built snow fort. It smacked wonderfully on to his ear and he jumped up with a friendly roar.
“ARHHH! That’s it! I’m going to get you Laurence!” he formed several snowballs quickly and started to pelt Valorian with them. Ella was having a fit of the giggles and joined the battle with her own small efforts.
“I’ll help you Laurie! Let‘s get him!” she roared a small, cute bellow and charged Eulak. Ella bounded into his crouched down body, and rubbed his face with some of the wonderful snow.
That day was to be remembered by all of them for a long time to come. Valorian and Ella flopped into their bed that night completely happy and sated. Nothing could have possibly been more fun. They had soon found that it was a tradition to spend the first day of the new snow as a holiday. Everyone in Cirquala had a fantastic time, young or old.
Along with the cold, frigid winter months came difficult and exhausting work for Valorian and the other workers; the way house hadn't gotten sufficient wood to carry them through the winter. Because of this, the poor workers were left struggling the icy coldness nipping fiercely at their ears and noses, while trudging through thick forests and hauling heavy logs a great distance. This work was straining every bit of strength and energy from Valorian's body, but she knew she had to continue, or her and Ella would have no place to stay.
On one particularly cold day, Allison noticed how run-down Valorian had looked recently. Her face was pale, her normally bright eyes were dull, and Allison felt sorry for her. Valorian was just heading out to clean out the horses' stalls, all bundled up and ready to tackle the cold when Allison stopped her. "Laurence, you don't seem like yourself lately, why don't you take the day off?" she suggested.
The very thought made Valorian's spirits raise, filling her body with such great happiness and relief. "Really?" she cried, wondering if Ella would be blessed with such a great opportunity to rest and regain her strength as she did. She almost hugged Allison, but remembered her appearance as a boy. "Thank you so much!" Valorian decided she would go outside to give the horses a nice visit anyway, because they were always expecting her and had grown to really like her.
Valorian hiked out through the deep snow and into the big old barn where she stomped off the snow from her boots greeted the horses one by one. Nearing Nimble's stall, she noticed it was vacant; Nimble was nowhere to be found. "Nimble! Where are you Nimble?" she cried, knowing it was useless to be doing so. Valorian was standing just in the entrance of the empty stall, facing inside. She was mentally sorting through everything, trying ever so hard to figure where the beautiful creature had gone.
A voice from behind Valorian startled her. "Hey Laurence."
Valorian spun around to see Eulak smiling brightly, his brilliant blue eyes gleaming. He had on his usual worn, tan breeches and creamy tunic, and his dark curls were untamed. They had become great companions through the months, always chatting and spending their break time together. "Eulak you scared me."
"Follow me,” he said simply, walking down the long line of stalls, reaching out to some of the horses and quickly stroking their noses. He led Valorian outside into the crisp air, to the back of the barn where two horses, Nimble and Tamoky, stood tied to a tall post wearing all of their clean and shiny tack. Tamoky was a handsome chestnut gelding, standing taller than Nimble. He was a lively one, throwing his head from side to side impatiently. When he started pawing the ground, reminding Valorian of nothing more than a bull, Eulak shouted his name and hit him lightly as not to hurt him, right on the shoulder.
"What is this? What is going on Eulak?" Valorian was curious along with being a bit frightened as well. She still hadn't let Eulak in on her little secret of not being able to ride, and she hoped with all her heart she wouldn't have to learn now. It wasn't just that she didn't know how, but when she was just a little girl, she had witnessed a terrible accident. On one of her trips to the stables in Worselville, Valorian had been watching three beautiful horses as they went by to take a luxurious ride through the trails. The wind had been strong that day, so the horses were a little edgy. Suddenly out of nowhere, a loud crash had come from within the barn, startling an especially frightened horse. He bucked wildly, and the poor rider flew off, hitting the ground with a hard smack. Her pa took her home too soon to see what had happened to the rider, and she had wondered ever since.
Eulak put a friendly arm around Valorian's shoulder and said, "We're going for a ride."
"Really? What a grand idea, Eulak but I don't know," Valorian muttered uncomfortably, "did I ever tell you that I've never ridden a horse before in my life?"
"Oh don't worry little Laurie, I'll take care of you," laughed Eulak light-heartedly, "after all, you have to start sometime and what better day than today? The air is sharp and fresh, and the sky is clear. It'll be wonderful." His easy manner made him a natural at coaxing people into doing things they weren't sure they wanted to do.
Valorian was eager to impress Eulak and in any case, she'd always wanted to learn to ride. "Well alright, but you'll have to be patient with me. I will doubtlessly be very bad at this," she warned good-naturedly.
Eulak stuck out his hands to form a step for Valorian to mount Nimble with. It took her three tries, and she was just about to tell him that she quit when Nimble graciously bent a little so as to help Valorian on to her elegant back. The view from atop Nimble’s back was so amazingly different from her usual perspective. She felt like she was high above everything, and the ground seemed far away.
“Uhhh, Eulak?” he looked over at her from his position on Tamoky’s back, “this is really high up. Are you sure that I can handle this?”
“Of course you can. How about we try the Fox Trail? It begins at the back of the East pasture,” Eulak asked, hoping Laurie would say yes. The Fox Trail was his favourite, he and his beloved Nimble had spent many stolen hours there together. Of course a full holiday was quite rare at the way house, so every free moment was treasured to its full capacity.
The Fox Trail was a fascinating, winding path that passed through hill and vale, and even a steep, treacherous ravine. Eulak set an easy, tranquil pace and endeavoured to help Valorian enjoy the outing. She was trying her best to stay on but every time they changed pace she would panic, thinking she was about to fall off. Tamoky and Eulak were up ahead, and just then Eulak called out, "Watch out!'
Nimble was light-footed and usually quite graceful but the twisted roots mischievously hidden along the quiet winding path behind small lumps of snow finally got the better of her. Her front hooves tripped over one particularly stubborn root. Valorian flew over Nimble’s delicate head and landed with a loud, “OOF!” in a pile of deep, forgiving snow on the side of the path.
Eulak noticed at once that Laurie wasn’t right behind him and Tamoky any longer and pivoted fast to gallop back to the scene of her fall.
“LAURIE!! Are you alright!” he yelled, concerned because she hadn’t moved yet. Her slim form was impounded in the snow and Nimble was being very strange. The poor horse was nickering and skittering around the path, her eyes wild with the recent fright.
Finally a moan ensued from the snow, “Ehhaghh. I feel like a workhorse fell on me and then hung on and pushed me off a cliff.”
“It’s good to hear you haven’t lost your sense of humour Laurie. Do you need some help to get out, my lad?” Eulak laughed heartily and bent over to pull a rather shaken-up Laurie out of her predicament.
Valorian brushed herself off and then struggled valiantly to mount up. It was hopeless; the fall had taken any extra energy out of her frail body. To make matters worse, poor Nimble was unable to bend her legs enough in the harsh conditions and uneven terrain in order to help the hapless beginner out. Eulak didn’t know what to do; there weren’t even any stumps around to use for a mounting block.
“Well, Laurie--you unfortunate rascal, you’ll have to ride Tamoky now, he’s taller than Nimble, but he still has a lot of energy and will be able to help you. We’ll just have to trust him to hold that finicky temper back. You’ll be a good boy, right Tamoky?”
After Valorian was finally safely atop Tamoky’s back, she realized she didn’t feel so good. “I think I hurt my back, Eulak. Is there any we could go back to the way house now, quickly?”
“Well, I suppose so, if ‘n it’s truly necessary. That would mean cutting through Caldolphs’ fallow field, and a little ways of brush as well. We’d best be going straight away then.”
Bravely, the two friends carried on. They cut through the willow thicket that bordered the Fox Trail and then came upon a spruce alder grove. It was beautiful during the crisp, frosty winter, and Valorian began to enjoy the ride, despite her sore back. The horses were getting weary now; trudging through the deep snow was taxing their magnificent strength.
As they walked on, Eulak shouted instructions to Valorian to help with her riding. "You need to loosen up in the saddle, you're too tense. Not only is it uncomfortable for you, but for Tamoky as well." Valorian concentrated on becoming relaxed, but not too relaxed or she might have fallen off again. "Use more leg, it helps with your balance and your horse's. It supports him to walk through such deep snow."
Valorian didn't know if she could use so much of her leg muscles, for they were already frightfully stiff, but again she tried, feeling an immediate difference, with Tamoky relaxing beneath her. "Wow! I didn't know something as insignificant as this would make such a delightful difference!" she said, smiling briefly at Eulak, turning her attention back to her riding. Valorian had noticed that Eulak looked as though he was born in the saddle, so natural and graceful. She envied him for sure, but knew that one day, with enough hard work and practice, she might be as good as Eulak.
"Okay now going up this hill I would like you to lean forward in the saddle; it will be less work for the horses to make it, and you yourself will have much more balance." Eulak showed Valorian what he meant, and she imitated him. "Very good, just like that."
It took all of Valorian's attention, strength, and determination to remember and practice each little detail Eulak had instructed her to do, for she had to do every one of them all at once, and well too. Valorian was glad for the silence between Eulak and herself, concentration was very important. She was even able to forget the aching pain in her back.
The rest of the ride flew by for Valorian, who was so busy concentrating and looking down at what she was doing that the way house seemed to just sneak upon her like mice at a picnic.
Once inside the barn, and after Valorian's hilarious attempts to dismount, Eulak showed Valorian how to detack, cool down and brush the steaming horses, making sure not to leave them hot or sweaty. Eulak had explained to Valorian that if you left a horse still hot from the ride without caring for it, the poor creature would get considerably ill, especially in the cold winter months. An ill horse was the last thing Valorian wished for, so she walked Tamoky slowly around the barn for near half an hour, and then brushed him vigorously as to not leave a spec of dried sweat. Once dry and cool, Valorian led her mount into his stall and helped Eulak with the feeding, even though it was her day off, as a sort of payment for all his instruction and kindness.
"Thank you for the lesson today, I really appreciate it." Valorian said, struggling to sit down next to Eulak on a stump just outside the barn when the feeding was completed. She groaned in pain at the injury in her back, trying not to sound too much like a sissy.
"Oh it was nothing. And I had a great amount of fun, especially watching your attempts to mount Tamoky." Eulak teased, smiling with kindness. Valorian playfully hit him on the shoulder, smiling back at her friend. "But you, my friend, should be getting some rest. You should not be straining that back of yours, as you are, walking around and such. Do you need any help getting to your room?"
Valorian would have loved some help, but declined his kind offer, not wanting to seem weak or any less of a boy. She struggled to her feet and stiffly sauntered into the way house, up the endless winding stairs and into the dimly lit room. The two had missed lunch, but Valorian didn't care, for all she could think about was relaxing in her bed, giving her poor aching bones a rest.
It had gone unnoticed that Valorian had fallen asleep until she was woken by the sound of footsteps on the other side of the room. She opened her eyes, seeing Ella looking beautiful in her blue dress, her hair neatly pinned back, carrying a large tray with all sorts of dinnertime goodies. "I thought you might want some dinner," Ella whispered, nearing Valorian's side of the bed.
"Ella it is so sweet of you to think of me, and yes, I haven't eaten since breakfast. I would love some dinner, and thank you. Will you join me?" Valorian asked hopefully, taking the tray from Ella.
"Oh Valorian I couldn't. Allison thinks I am cleaning Mrs. Loffler's bedroom. I would hate to disappoint her." Ella protested. "And besides, I've already eaten.
Valorian's
face showed disappointment as she said, "Ella we never have
a chance to chat anymore. You are with your friends during mealtime,
and I am so burnt out at the end of the day that I fall instantly to
sleep."
Ella did agree with this, so she sat on the corner of
Valorian's bed, watching her as she ate. There was a long silence,
until finally Ella spoke. "Where were you this morning? You
didn't show up for lunch and I was ever so worried."
Valorian
swallowed some refreshing fruit juice and smiled. "I went riding
with Eulak."
"You did? Oh Valorian how delightful! How did you do?"
"I fell off." she replied, then seeing the worried look on Ella's face she said, "Oh don't worry, I’ll be fine. I am just very sore."
Wishing to change the subject, Ella said, "so this Eulak boy, you seem to be spending much of your time with him."
Seeing the mysterious look in Ella's eyes made Valorian say, "He's a good friend, dear Ella, and nothing more. And besides, he is still in belief that I am a boy." Valorian mussed Ella's hair playfully with one hand, and taking a bite of deliciously made bread with the other.
The girls chatted for just a little time longer, when Ella announced that she must get back to her night time chores. "It was very pleasant talking to you Lori,” she said, “you deserve some more sleep now.”
"Thank you Ella, for everything." Before Ella had even reached the doorway, Valorian was fast asleep, and she wasn't to wake until the next morning.
The sun shone through the window of Valorian's room, waking her from its light the next morning. She was glad to see that it would be a sunny day, not one filled with horrible blizzards and such. Glancing over to Ella's side, Valorian saw the little girl still sleeping peacefully, breathing quietly. Valorian was somehow eager to start her chores that morning, so she happily swung her legs around to the side of the bed. She squealed in pain. Her legs, her arms, and her back had such terrifying pain Valorian had to bite her lip to restrain from screaming anymore. Of course, Ella woke to such a cry, bolting upright.
"Oh Valorian are you okay? Please tell me you are okay! What hurts? Can I do something to make it better?" Ella rambled on endlessly, not having the slightest clue of what she should be doing. She stumbled to the other side of the bed, where Valorian was attempting to stand up, and crouched beside her.
Valorian believed that only her muscles were sore, so she said, "Ella, it's okay, I just wasn't expecting such horrible soreness this morning." She got to her feet finally, but her back was aching so badly she had to sit down again.
"I'll go get Allison." Ella said, jumping to her feet and disappearing into the hallway before Valorian had time to protest.
Valorian sat painfully on the cozy little bed, hoping the unspeakable hurt would soon recede. How can I be such a pathetic weakling! No one will ever continue to believe that I am a boy if I keep on getting into scrapes like this.
Finally Ella returned, an entire entourage trailing behind. Valorian couldn’t believe that all these people cared enough about her to come see her pitiful condition. Allison rushed to the bedside, concern filling her deep eyes.
“Why Laurie! Whatever did happen to you? You were fine just yesterday.” She was pumping Laurie’s sore, tender legs, testing her flexibility. Even the gentle pressure and movement that Allison was using on Valorian was excruciatingly painful to her inept limbs. By now some of the onlookers had left to do their allotted tasks.
“I went horse-back riding with Eulak yesterday, it was my first time, and I suppose I just wasn’t prepared for the effects.” She tried to seem tough, but the pain was all too unbearable, she cried out wildly, “Ahhh!”
“I am not certain there is anything that can be done, I‘m sorry Laurie. You are going to have to wait for the doctor. Don’t you worry about a thing.” She spoke in a kind low rumbling voice, which comforted poor Valorian in her agony.
Ella was kneeling on the edge of the humble bed, stroking Valorian’s head. Her once long, gorgeous hair was now clipped close to her head, and a few impish curls twined down to fall over her flawless ears. Valorian thought back to that day when she discovered she would have to cut her precious tresses, after her first week at the way house. She had been wearing her hat constantly; her hair bundled up neatly on top of her head, when several of her fellow workers commented on her odd choice of attire. She had trudged very reluctantly up to their small room, handed Ella the scissors she’d borrowed from the kitchen supplies and let out a huge, regretful sigh. Ever since then, she’d felt slightly incomplete, for she’d had long hair ever since she was a tiny little girl like Ella. She’d hardly recognized herself the next day; looking in a small, cloudy mirror Ella had pinched from the women’s baths.
“Valorian? Valorian? The doctor is here now,” Allison was leaning over her, patting her cheeks. There was only Ella, Allison and the doctor in the room now.
He was an odd sort of man to be a doctor, not at all the gentle old man Valorian was expecting. He was middle-aged, with crinkly black hair and tanned skin. His muscles were almost bursting out of his work-worn tunic. What on earth is a man like this doing helping sick and lame people? She wondered in vain.
“Hello everyone, now what seems to be the problem? The messenger boy wasn’t very clear about the origin of the malady,” his deep, rough voice reminded Valorian of her father, “by the way, if any of you are wondering, I am also the local blacksmith. My name is Alain Rugginer.”
Ella, eager to help in any way she could, piped up, ”Laurie was horse-back riding with Eulak, another stable boy, when she had an accident. That’s when he hurt his back. They kept on riding and now Laurie’s so sore that he can’t stand up.” Hearing Ella’s truthful yet embarrassing comments caused Valorian to blush, boyishly of course. The big doctor paid no attention, and lightly bent her limbs into every position imaginable. The pain was like incessant torture, but Valorian was determined to be brave and bear through it.
“There’s a good lad. You’ll pull through,” he reassured them all comfortingly, “but this young man has got something wrong with him that I can’t put together. It’s not the muscles, those will be back to normal in a few days. Believe me, I’ve experienced a lot of aches and pains myself.” They all stared disbelievingly at the burly, strong blacksmith. He smiled nonchalantly and went on, “It’s just his bones are too small, not enough rest and nourishment I’d say. When was the last time you had a relaxing day, boy?”
Silence met the question as they could all discern the response, she hadn’t had a relaxing day for at least two seasons. Finally Allison had to speak to fill the uneasy quiet.
“Well, there was the first day of winter, the whole way house had the day off. They played in the snow.” Allison was nervous now, she didn’t want the local authorities looking into the way she ran her business. Her lower jaw jutted out with nervous tension, showing her ghastly teeth.
Alain shook his head sadly, “That wouldn’t help him out but a jot. He needs a good week to recover.” He crossed his gigantic arms and sighed ruefully, “You’re just going to have to take a vacation. No more rough-housing for a while now.”
He got up from his position kneeling beside the bed, walked towards the door and glanced back, “I wish you a fast recovery, lad. Good eating.” And then he was gone.
Allison took his place at Valorian’s side and said calmly to Ella, “Won’t you go down to the kitchens and bring your brother some ice in a cloth? Thank you.”
Ella scurried off to do her bidding and Allison turned menacingly to Laurie, “Now, when I took you on here, I had no idea things were going to turn out this way. I feed my workers well, and of course we can’t afford to take holidays, no business would prosper if it was ran that way. If you are going to stay in this establishment you must earn your keep. And Ella’s well-meaning chores won’t be enough, I’m sorry. I want you down in the barns mucking out stalls tomorrow, or else you can be prepared to find new quarters for you and your sister.” Her tone of voice was strangled and it held no trace of the once gentle quality.
Tears were welling up in eyes, for Allison’s harsh remarks had cut deeply. The reality of her mistress’s ultimatum was too much for her to bear in her present state.
“Please, just go away. We will do what must be done, you needn’t concern yourself,” moaned Valorian, her voice filled with anxiety at this new hurdle in their lives.
A knock at the door startle Allison just as she was ready to open it and go out, leaving Valorian in her shocked condition. Ella waltzed through the well-built door frame, brushing past Allison in an effort to reach her sister.
Allison stood in the doorway another minute, watching little Ella try her best to soothe Valorian, and wipe away her tears. Then the mistress could bear it no longer, she left and went back to her business, feeling as if she had killed an orphan.
Throughout the long, crisp winter's day, Valorian lay in bed helplessly, wondering what she and Ella were to do. Allison's words stuck to her like honey on a hot day, and she ran them through her mind over and over. Valorian knew she would be unable to do her chores the next day, for she could hardly move a muscle without excruciating pain, but if the chores were not completed her and Ella would be out on their backsides with no place to go and nothing to eat.
Ella had been busying herself with her chores, checking in with Valorian every now and then to see if she needed anything. On one particular visit, Valorian sat Ella down and told her of the plan. "We cannot stay here, Ella. Allison has made it clear that if I can't work, I can't earn my keep."
Ella was horror-stricken. Her big beautiful eyes were wide, showing a tiny tear forming at the corner of one of her eyes. "But what about my chores Laurie? Aren't they good enough?"
"I'm sorry Ella, we have to be out by tomorrow morning." Was Valorian's reply; she didn't want Ella thinking that she hadn't been working hard enough, for she was a great worker. It just wouldn't be enough for the two of them. Her own eyes were filled with failure and hatred towards Allison; surely her lack of work for one week wouldn't jeopardize the way house a great deal. There would be no convincing Allison, for she had already made up her mind. "Get packed Ella, I would like to leave as soon as possible."
Ella knew not to argue with Valorian, for she knew that when her sister put her mind to something, she was as determined and stubborn as a mule. Ella packed up her belongings and excused herself to say goodbye to all of her friends. Valorian had seen Ella make an immense amount of companions during their stay at the way house, so she understood.
When Ella had disappeared into the hallway, Eulak's tall figure appeared at the door. He was smiling, his blue eyes sparkling. "Hello Laurie, how are you this fine afternoon?"
Valorian sighed, looking down, her fingers playing with the edge of the blanket in a nervous sort of way. "As well as I could be at a time like this." She looked up at Eulak. "Allison has said that Ella and I are to leave by tomorrow morning."
"Yes, I heard." Eulak grumbled, then seeing Valorian's questioning eyes he explained, "word travels fast around here. Where will you go?" He went over and sat on the corner of Valorian's bed, his face showing a great amount of concern.
"I have yet to decide that, Eulak. I suppose we will just wander about the town looking for some type of employment. Do you know of anyone?" Valorian asked hopefully.
"There is always Alain Rugginer. He's always looking for young, hardworking boys like you to help him out. Why don't you give him a try?" Eulak stood up and stretched, looking a tad weary. He walked to the window, gazing out at the glistening snow, still full attention on Valorian.
Her face twisted in a confused sort of way. "The doctor? Whatever would he have for a boy like me to help him out with?" She positioned herself so she could see her friend, groaning as her muscles moved from her previous position.
"Oh, don't you remember that he is a blacksmith as well? There is a lot of work for a boy such as you to do for him, and he would greatly appreciate it." He was watching some children outside building a snowman, struggling to put the third bundle on top. They finally gave up, and started in an intense snowball fight, their cheeks and noses pink.
"Thank you Eulak." Valorian smiled.
Eulak turned from the window. His usually messy curls were slicked back, and his clothes were unusually clean. "Oh it's the least I can do. I feel it is all my fault anyway. I was the one who pressured you into riding when clearly you weren't up for it. I owe you for that Laurie."
"Oh don't be silly Eulak. It wasn't your fault in the least." Once Valorian had said that, she realized what a girl she had been sounding like. Her cheeks turned a brilliant red and she looked down at her nervous hands.
Eulak laughed. "If you say so, Laurie. I must be going now, make sure you come by and visit me one more than one occasion, okay?" Valorian nodded, and Eulak started for the door. At the doorway, he turned and said, "you know, Laurie, you're a strange boy." And he was gone.
By early that evening Ella had managed to pack up their few belongings into the couple of worn out canvas sacks they'd used previously on their journey. It didn't take long, there was not many articles of clothing left after a lengthy, arduous journey. As she finished the task, she sighed and perched on their meagre baggage, full of melancholy at the thought of leaving their latest "home".
Valorian's heart weakened when she saw poor Ella's fatalistic expression. "Ella, dear, come here," she murmured as her body shot full of intense pain from her unwelcome effort. Valorian gasped bravely and then continued when Ella clambered over to the little bed dutifully, "You mustn't mourn over all this, Ella, it'll all work out for the best, you'll see. And of course we cannot expect Allison to cope with the burden of our presence when I am ill and of no use to her."
Ella's long, adorable eyelashes shuddered gently as she tried to hold back the tears that threatened to rush past the dam of her courageous stoicism. "B-b-but Laurie! What will we do? Where will we go?” the questions were coming in a flood now, a tumult of emotions released from her valiant grasp.
A kindly matron came breezing through the doorway, a tray with deliciously prepared food gracing it’s surface. Valorian and Ella both looked up at her motherly face eagerly, not just with the hunger for food; their eyes told a story of a search for love and hope that only a mother can give.
“G’evenin’ to you, poor darlings, I just brought you a bit to eat on account of me thinking ‘twas about time you had some proper victuals in those starving bellies of yours.”
Ella looked at Valorian questioningly, and Valorian gazed impatiently at the tray the lady was carrying in her steady hands. Finally Ella noticed Laurie’s plight; she couldn’t muster the strength to speak again, her last discourse relieving her of all energy for the present.
“Thank you so much! We were ever so hungry before you came along,” she piped up in lieu of Laurie.
At that the lady set down her offerings and hurried out the door to her other pressing duties.
The food had disappeared astonishingly fast and the sisters spent the remainder of their last evening at the way house discussing Valorian’s plans for the future. She had decided to follow Eulak’s advice and seek help from the ruddy blacksmith-doctor. Ella, who was now eager for new adventures, heartily agreed. Both were confident of his certain kindness.
When the night grew dark Ella curled up beside her beloved sister, clutching a cushion for comfort, whilst still trying not to disturb Laurie’s sleep. The night was long and Valorian was kept awake by both the physical pain and her many qualms concerning the morrow.
^*^*^A knock at the door startled the sleeping girls. It was Eulak, and he had come to take Laurie over to the blacksmith’s on a stretcher he had cunningly devised of stable scraps. It was slightly longer than Valorian’s body, and was adorned thoughtfully with blankets and cushions to make the journey as comfortable as possible.
Despite all their efforts, Laurie was still in an extraordinary amount of pain as the handful of sympathetic stable boys gathered round to help in the gloomy light of false dawn. It took four strong lads to heave her aching body atop the makeshift stretcher. Ella scrambled around, trying to be helpful all the while by chirping little pieces of direction and advice. The atmosphere was stifled as each thought on the seriousness of the day.
They made quite a scene in the observant tight-knit community of Cirquala. Neighbours leaned out their doorways in an effort to figure out what was going on. Their troupe soldiered on abidingly, determined to carry their friend to the forge without stopping to rest.
Valorian had never realized before how much they all cared for her, and that realization brought gallant tears to her dirt-smudged face. Ella’s pretty little face was flushed with tender tears as well, although she could not fully understand what Laurie was feeling.
The forge was attached to Alain Rugginer’s home, and his wife greeted them, hands wrapped bashfully in her apron. Everything was comforting and cheery. Shoes scuffed shyly at the wooden floor as the lads all struggled to find something meaningful to say to their friend. Finally Eulak broke the silence of the quiet sitting room with his warm, agreeable voice.
“Laurie, it’s been a great past few months having you work and live with us. I myself will never forget your bravery and determination. All of us here admire you a lot and we’ll be coming round to visit you often, if that’s all right with you.”
Valorian gulped air for a second and then mumbled roughly, “Oh, of course you may visit. I’d like that a lot. You’ve all been so nice to me, showing what to do when I was just an ignorant new stable hand and sticking by me through thick and thin. Thanks so much-- for everything. I know we’ll be friends for a long, long time.”
“How about forever?” one of the more plucky lads jumped in.
Slowly the faithful group realized they had to be back at the way house and the stumbled into the hall and out the forge. Despite her pain and injuries, Valorian had a fantastic day just knowing how all of them cared about her, and were thinking often of her.
Lying on the carefully constructed stretcher, Valorian was lost in a deep sea of thoughts, Ella sitting next to her, hands folded in her lap and doing the same. In this room, four chairs were placed around in a large circle, all facing inwards, accenting the grand wooden table in the centre. On it, a glass jar sat casting beautiful rainbows throughout the entire room from the early sunlight that was pouring in through the small window. Each radiant colour shone wonderfully, brightening up the room and bringing happiness to each of its curious watchers. It was a lovely sight and when Valorian's eyes rested on it, the fairness of the jar held her gaze for a long while.
Valorian's friends had set her down near the warm, homely fireplace, and the ardent heat from raging fire made her clothes feel damp and uncomfortable. She dreamed of having a nice, relaxing bath to wash not only her sweat but all the failure and anger she felt for Allison.
Both girls were startled by the sudden presence of Mrs. Rugginer who slipped in quite silently, and began to speak in a hushed, almost whispering voice.
"Mr. Rugginer shall be returning within the hour, and I have been given instructions to feed you." Her hands went to her apron and wrapped themselves in it, in a way Valorian began to see as strangely familiar. "If I could please have some help from you, little girl, that would be wonderful." She was looking at Ella, who seemed to be more than happy to help out, as long as food was involved. "And as for you, Laurence, you are to stay here as to not injure yourself anymore."
"Yes ma'am." Valorian murmured. She was quite content right where she was, now staring into the pungent fire, raging as if it wished to be set free. Valorian's mind wandered back to the days of living with her ma and pa, and realized her memories, both good and bad, were so distant, so faded. It seemed almost as if they were second hand but she knew deep inside that they would always be her ma and pa, no matter how cruel they were towards her, no matter how far away she was.
Valorian must have drifted off to sleep for she woke to Ella gently shaking her shoulder and whispering softly into her ear, her lips softly skimming the tip of it. Pain shot through Valorian's back and legs at the mere touch of Ella's hand, but she did not say so, she didn't want to upset poor Ella. She bit back a groan, and opened her eyes.
"Wha--ah!" she cried, still confused with the remnants of sleep even yet upon her. Suddenly, it all rushed back. The pain-- the move to Alain Rugginer’s, everything made sense now.
Valorian felt Ella’s questioning gaze on her so she quit daydreaming and turned to her little sister. “What time is it?” she asked.
“Why Valorian, it’s nearly time for dinner! You must have been absolutely exhausted to have slept this long, and right after a long sleep too! It’s the fifth hour past the sun’s summit.”
Ella and Mrs. Rugginer had already had a nice little lunch, and then taken tea, together; Ella chattering happily away, the kind lady listening benevolently. The sight reminded the onlooker of a mother and daughter spending time together. This togetherness time was very good for Ella, for even though she was very grown-up for her age, she was still a little girl who needed a mother.
Valorian, on the other hand, had some much more basic and eminent needs at the moment. But even in her physical pain and distress she’d not forgotten her always present goal of travelling the world and learning everything she could. That feeling stayed with her, like a close companion. She sighed deeply, then winced at the discomfort the action caused. Not even Ella would understand her urgent desire to move on, to learn more than she could ever have dreamed of if she’d stayed in Worselville and followed orders.
Heavy footsteps sounded in the hall, Alain had come into the house for dinner. On his way to the wash basin he peeped in at Valorian, winked mysteriously and quickly whisked off to the site of his original intent.
That interlude shook the fragments of drowsiness from her mind. She sat up carefully, and pulled on some stockings that were laid neatly beside her work boots. Vaguely the thought crossed her mind that she wished to have the freedom of being a female again. She had to rid herself of that concern with a shake of her head though; there was no time for foolhardy wishful thinking.
As she stumbled slowly out the doorway, following her sensitive nose to the dining room, she blinked and looked with wide eyes at the wonderfully articulate sconces that lined the hall. The warm cheery light winked and blinked in the dim corridor, sending off strange but marvellous shadows, dancing in the light.
The dining room was a simple affair, but homely and pleasing to the eye after the large impersonal servants’ dining hall and many bushes and trees along the way to Cirquala.
The sight of such extravagant provisions brought Valorian to realize the forgotten hunger that tore at her stomach as though she hadn't eaten in weeks. The table was lined with all sorts of marvellous food, and the smell was one that made Valorian's mouth water uncontrollably. Ella was sitting on the opposite side of the large table, looking wonderfully clean, Alain Rugginer at the head.
"Sit down dear." Mrs. Rugginer's voice called from the kitchen. Hearing her voice Valorian felt a warm feeling inside of her, for Mrs. Rugginer had such a motherly charm, always making the girls feel so much at home after such a rigorous, difficult journey.
"Thank you." Valorian murmured, smiled slightly and sat down opposite to Ella. Mrs. Rugginer brought one last tray of food, the aroma a fantastic one.
They ate in a peaceful silence for quite some time, and it wasn't until just before desert was presented that Alain spoke. "As you know, Laurence, I am in need of a boy to help me with my work," he said suddenly, wiping his chin with a cloth, "and I am under the understanding that you wish to be that boy." He waited for her reply, which seemed to be somewhat delayed.
Valorian was absolutely sure she wanted to accept his kind offer before she had been in the presence of their home, but after tasting the life of the Rugginers', she was reconsidering her decision. They were so kind to her, and Valorian felt that they were showing such kindness out of pity of her and Ella, and she did not like that. Valorian glanced up at Ella's pleading eyes and realized what was necessary, for her sake, and her sister's.
After what seemed like decades, Valorian replied, "Yes, I must admit that I've had that desire."
"Well then, when do you think you'll be fit for work?" he asked good naturedly.
Valorian looked around, trying to collect the multitude of feelings and pains she was having to give him an accurate assessment. "I could begin next week, sir," she smiled bravely. That is, if my back is ever gets better. The thought chilled her innards. What if I never do recover? What would Ella do?
Immediately sensing her discomfort, the kind Mr. Rugginer laid a gentle but powerful hand on her shoulder. "Do not worry about your physical condition my dear lad. I have been diagnosing you, and I can see that within three days time you will be fit as a fiddle." The look in his eyes told her that all was not as well as he would have liked her to believe, but she took his encouraging words to heart, so as to not lose what little confidence in her body she had left.
After that the dinner continued quietly, with all of them enjoying the good food whilst thinking to themselves. Valorian chewed her dinner bun, savouring its chewy, comforting texture. Then Ella, who had been sitting nicely all the while swinging her too-short legs under the table piped up.
"But Mr. Rugginer, how is Laurie going to be well in three days if her back aches when she moves the least little bit?"
"Well now, brave lassie, if you must know," his eyes twinkled, "I've a plan for your big brother. Tomorrow morning we are going to work with his back to get it back to ship shape condition as soon as possible. I will need your assistance if that's quite all right with Mrs. Rugginer.
They all smiled, for his word was known throughout the neighbourhood to be dependable and honest. He'd never been shown up wrong, in all the years of his practice. And everything he forged at the smithy had his stout reputation boldly attached to it.
Finally, after all the food that could possibly be eaten had been devoured by Valorian's voracious appetite, she was sent to bed for a good night's rest. Something about the atmosphere of that cozy house seemed to rock her to sleep, like a babe in the arms of her mother.
** ** ** *** ** *** ** *** ** ***
"Pass me that hammer will you Laurie?"
She picked up the heavy tool with both hands, and carefully trudged accross the small, straw strewn courtyard to hand it to her new master.
"There's a good lad."
Whenever he called her, he always used "Laurie", not "Laurence"; and there was an air of humour in his voice as he said lad. Valorian was always left wondering if, as a wise doctor and experienced working man, he knew who and what she really was. If he did it did not matter to him. He had spent many hours in the previous days, bending her injured back this way and that. It still ached at night, but the pain was duller, and not so excruciating.
Life started to look up for Ella and Valorian for the first time since the two had left home. Not only was Valorian beginning to feel herself fitting in at Mr. Rugginer's, but she felt needed, a feeling she had never experienced so much before. She worked long hours as Mr. Rugginer's aid as a blacksmith, but it was a great opportunity to meet new people.
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven